Teddy Bear Picnic enters 24th year with new cause and new sponsor
It’s one of Kingston’s most adorably fun family events that raises funds to better our community, and this year’s Teddy Bear Picnic promises all of your favourite events and activities for the 24th year.
The only difference this year will be where those funds go, and who is sponsoring the event.
For the past decade, the event has been organized by the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area, with funds raised supporting their programming. This year, sponsored by Tamarack Homes, the 2018 Teddy Bear Picnic will raise funds for the life-changing mentoring program at Big Brothers Big Sisters Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington (KLF&A).
“We’re proud to be passing the torch to our partner agency,” said Tony Gargaro, director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club.
“Our missions are so closely linked and the important need for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and their mentorship programs are growing in our community. We know the event will continue to be a family tradition in their hands.”
The Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program provides one-on-one mentoring services for children and youth in the area, as well as mentoring programs in the community and in local schools. There is a need for larger group mentoring programs, and for more, dedicated Big Brothers and Big Sisters, as there are many children on the waiting list looking for a mentor.
So grab your teddy bear (or a few), pack a picnic lunch, and head down to Lake Ontario Park on Saturday, Aug. 18 for a full day of live entertainment, games, activities, and play, all in the name of a good cause. The event will include bouncy castles, arts and crafts, story time, and music, as well as free cotton candy and coffee, and a food truck on site where attendees can purchase lunch or ice cream.
Family passes are $10 for up to four children (and an additional $3 per child thereafter), and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details here: www.kingston.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/ways-to-give/teddybearpicnic/.