YMCA of Eastern Ontario

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Send a Kid to Camp Fundraiser Surpasses Target! News Release

Kingston and Brockville, ON – The YMCA of Eastern Ontario’s Send a Kid to Camp fundraiser has been a huge success with people in our communities donating like never before!

Send a Kid to Camp (SAKTC) is part of the Y’s annual Strong Communities campaign that raises money for the Y’s financial assistance fund, helping people gain access to healthy, inclusive programming, including summer camps.

The Strong Communities campaign also helps seniors living with chronic health conditions to achieve better outcomes; provides youngsters with a safe place to go after school; gives families more opportunities to play together; teaches teens leadership skills in the Y’s welcoming environment; and helps individuals who are isolated in finding a place where they are supported and can make new friends.

This year’s Strong Communities campaign goal is $400,000 with $100,000 targeted to SAKTC. The 2022 SAKTC fundraiser has raised $133,270.14 – more than 30 per cent above our goal – and will help more children participate in recreational programs!

We are humbled and very grateful that people in our community see the value of our work and have been so willing to give,” said Rob Adams, CEO, YMCA of Eastern Ontario. “The past two years have been really difficult for kids and summer camp is an important opportunity to help kids re-connect, socialize and learn new things while they’re having fun.”

He added: “Two years without socializing or with intermittent socializing has had an impact. We’ve seen more kids struggle in integrating with others than in past years. It seems to be taking some children a little longer to learn or re-learn skills for interactive play. Increased donations to Y summer camps means that we don’t have to limit the subsidy we can provide to families who are most in need, which opens access. And this year, perhaps more than any other time, we’re seeing just how important social interactions are for our kids.”

The Strong Communities campaign has already raised $272,930.39 of the $400,000 goal. This number includes funds for Send a Kid to Camp.

A heart-felt thank you to all donors including our camp sponsors:

Camp Leader

Camp Counsellor

Camp Buddy

The Larry Gibson Foundation

Britton Smith Foundation

Fidelity Investments Canada ULC

 

Burnbrae Farms Limited

Canarm Ltd.

 

Neighbourhood Sharing Centre

 

Kinsmen Club of Kingston

Gill Ratcliffe Foundation, Jack Gilfillan

 

CaraCo

 

Home Hardware, Brockville

 
 

LiUNA Local 183

 
 

May Court Club of Brockville

 
 

McDonald's Restaurants

 
 

Northern Cables

 
 

 

Orogenic Inc.

 
 

 

Strader-Ferris International (SFI)

 
 

 

The Township of Leeds & Thousand Islands

 

People are invited to donate throughout the campaign, which ends in December, or to one of two remaining cornerstone events: the Gord Brown Memorial Golf Tournament on August 17 or the George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull on October 15.

By donating to the YMCA Strong Communities campaign, you are:

  • Helping address food insecurity
  • Helping a child learn to swim
  • Helping a teen to learn to lead and feel successful
  • Enabling a child to participate in a recreation program or in physical activity
  • Providing a safe and welcoming after-school program for at-risk teens
  • Enabling a family to access trusted, quality childcare
  • Helping a senior maintain or regain mobility and have better health outcomes

At the Y, we recognize that each person’s charitable journey is unique, so we have many ways for you to give. Please visit our donation page at Canada Helps or contact our director of fund development and relationships, Amy Kirkland at amy.kirkland@eo.ymca.ca.

Please make a donation today to provide much-needed resources to people of all ages to access healthy and inclusive programs regardless of their ability to pay.

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About YMCA Eastern Ontario

The YMCA of Eastern Ontario is a charity that provides programs and services to improve health and health outcomes, develops leaders, helps build social connections and provides safe, inclusive spaces for people of all ages. The Y is Canada’s largest provider of childcare with trademarked curricula and offers fitness and other specialized programs including Work Hard Eat Well, Teen Drop-in, Karate and Total Life Care. www.eo.ymca.ca

For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

 

Colleen Gareau

Director, Marketing & Communication

YMCA Eastern Ontario

colleen.gareau@eo.ymca.ca

613-888-9298

colleen.gareau@eo.ymca.ca