Andrew Furey, founder of Team Broken Earth, named Red Cross humanitarian of the year
High school student who organized Metro Youth Mental Health Committee earns youth honours
The St. John's man who founded a volunteer medical team to help people affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake is the Canadian Red Cross's humanitarian of the year for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Andrew Furey started Team Broken Earth in the aftermath of the earthquake, and has travelled to Haiti more than 20 times since to help provide health care as well as training and education for local medical professionals.
Team Broken Earth has grown to three chapters across the province and counts more than 200 volunteer doctors, nurses and physiotherapists across Canada.
Patrick Hickey's work to promote youth mental wellness has been recognized with the Red Cross's Young Humanitarian award.
Hickey, of St. John's, organized a school-wide event on mental wellness when he was in Grade 11 at Holy Heart of Mary High School and later founded the Metro Youth Mental Health Committee. The following year, he organized a two-day youth mental wellness conference for more than 600 students from 30 schools.
In 2015, Hickey was City of St. John's youth of the year, and was recognized provincially as youth volunteer of the year.
He's now studying at Western University in London, Ont. as a Loran Scholar, with a $100,000 award, including funding for summer internships in enterprise, public policy and community development.