Surrey philanthropist John Volken knows that while money cansa国际传媒檛 buy many of the most important things in life, it definitely can be put to good use if you have a mind and heart to help others in need.

Volken has published an autobiography revealing a rags-to-riches life of adventures, challenges, hard work and faith that has resulted in new beginnings for many people whosa国际传媒檝e sought help from his organization to shed their addictions.

Volken was born in Germany during the Second World War and spent part of his childhood in an orphanage in Soviet-occupied East Germany. At 18, he came to Canada, envisioning a new life as a lumberjack in the great white north. After landing in Halifax, he caught a train to Toronto not knowing anyone in Canada, not knowing English, with no job prospect and only $90 in his pocket.

But Volken was a quick study, with a strong work ethic and possessed of an entrepreneurial spirit that saw him rise from a dishwasher earning 25-cents an hour to building a furniture retail chain empire in North America that featured 150 stores and $200 million in annual sales.

His 184-page book, Walk with a Purpose: The John Volken Story, has an eye-catching subtitle: sa国际传媒淔rom dishwasher to multi-millionaire then gave it all awaysa国际传媒�sa国际传媒�

In 2004, Volken sold his furniture business and with its proceeds established a foundation that supports his John Volken Academy sa国际传媒� which provides sa国际传媒渆ffective, long-term, residential addiction treatment for men and womensa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� as well as supporting other charities.

Broadcaster and author David Berner, also founder of Canadasa国际传媒檚 first residential treatment centre for people addicted to drugs and alcohol, writes in the booksa国际传媒檚 back-cover copy that while most wealthy men sa国际传媒渨ould have settled into a life of golf,sa国际传媒� Volken did not, and thatsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒渆xactly where the best and most exciting part of John Volkensa国际传媒檚 story beginssa国际传媒�sa国际传媒�

The Volken Academy has three locations sa国际传媒� a rehab for men in Seattle, one for men and women in Phoenix, Arizona, and a third for men and women here in Surrey, at 6911 King George Blvd., where he also resides.

His philanthropic endeavours have, among other honours, resulted in a visit by the Dalai Lama in 2014, and an audience with Pope Francis in 2021. While some of the many highlights in his career, he writes in his book, sa国际传媒渢hose experiences are just fleeting moments. Far more important is my relationship with my family, my relationship with my fellow man, and above all my relationship with God. These relationships are eternal.sa国际传媒�

His autobiography, he notes, serves a practical purpose. People often ask him about himself.

sa国际传媒淔inally I said well, maybe for posterity and for saving having to answer all the questions always, put it all in the book,sa国际传媒� he told the Now-Leader. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 all in the book. I believe once yousa国际传媒檙e taking care of yourself or your family, then you should work for the common good of everybody.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not that thick but it tells you all my stories so when the next time I have to give a talk in front of people I say if you want to know more about it, more about me, just buy the book and then you know all about me.sa国际传媒�

Walk with a Purpose: The John Volken Story can be purchased on Amazon with a list price of $22 Canadian/$16 U.S., with all proceeds from this book going to charity.

tom.zytaruk@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on   and follow Tom on