Toronto Raptors' all-star point guard Kyle Lowry and his wife Ayahna Cornish-Lowry has been awarded a TCDSB Friends of Catholic Education Award.
Toronto Raptors' all-star point guard Kyle Lowry and his wife Ayahna Cornish-Lowry has been awarded a TCDSB Friends of Catholic Education Award. Photo courtesy of the Toronto Catholic District School Board

Kyle and Ayahna Lowry honoured by Toronto Catholic school board

By 
  • April 27, 2017

Kyle Lowry, the Toronto Raptors’ all-star point guard, has his hands full with the NBA playoffs these days, but he took time out recently to accept an award from the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

Lowry and his wife Ayahna Cornish-Lowry were presented a TCDSB Friends of Catholic Education Award for their work though the Lowry Love Foundation. They responded via video, with Kyle thanking the board for the award and saying he and Ayahna "just want to give back."

The Lowrys made Christmas an extra-special celebration for 60 students from St. Paul and Our Lady of Victory schools during the 2014 and ’16 seasons. This past Christmas, it was 29 students from St. Paul that received $300 worth of toys from Toys R Us, purchased by the couple, during a 15-minute shopping spree through the store.

“My mom and grandmom did a great job of making us understand, showing us that Christmas is supposed to be a wonderful time and I’m glad I had the opportunity to give back,” Lowry told The Toronto Star after the kids ran through the store.

The Lowrys also put on a Christmas toy drive in their hometown of Philadelphia, where they first met while attending Cardinal Dougherty Catholic High School.

The couple established the Lowry Love Foundation in 2013 with a mission to "touch the lives of the underprivileged and disadvantaged in order to promote their attainment of a better quality of life,” reads the statement on the foundation web site.

The TCDSB Awards are presented to “accomplished alumni, students, staff and friends of Catholic education.”

lwory webToronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry speaking to students during the “Holiday Assist” program Dec. 21, 2016. (Photo courtesy of TCDSB)

Among the other honourees are:

  • -Marcia Brown, executive director of Trust for 15 years.
  • -The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, whose contribution to literacy are over $400,000.
  • -Fr. Patrick O’Dea for being “a shining example of the gifts that pastors keep on giving.”
  • -Dr. Mark McGowan, author.
  • -Bruce Rivers, executive director of Covenant House.
  • -Lisa Canning, interior designer and graduate of Cardinal Carter Academy.
  • -Martin McCarthy, a graduate of Michael Power/St. Joseph.
  • -Kwabena Owusu Mensa of St. Jane Frances and Ryan Gatt of Dante Alighieri Academy will receive the Sr. Mary Hamilton Award for exceptional students.
  • The Awards night is held May 1 at Toronto's Catholic Education Centre.

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