YMCA’s Send a Kid to Camp fundraiser surpasses goal

The YMCA of Eastern Ontario’s Send a Kid to Camp (SAKTC) fundraiser, part of the Y’s annual Strong Communities campaign, surpassed its goal by more than 30 per cent this year.

The Strong Communities campaign raises money for the Y’s financial assistance fund, helping people gain access to healthy, inclusive programming, including summer camps, according to a release from the organization. The 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 find a place where they are supported and can make new friends.

“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 of the 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.”

According to the Y, 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 and will help more children participate in recreational programs.

“Two years without socializing or with intermittent socializing has had an impact,” Adams added. “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.

The Y sent a heartfelt thank you to all donors including camp sponsors:

Camp Leader

• The Larry Gibson Foundation
• Burnbrae Farms Limited
•  Kinsmen Club of Kingston

Camp Counsellor

• Britton Smith Foundation
• Canarm Ltd.
• Gill Ratcliffe Foundation, Jack Gilfillan
• 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

 Camp Buddy

• Fidelity Investments Canada ULC
• Neighbourhood Sharing Centre
• CaraCo

The Strong Communities campaign ends in December and anyone who can is encouraged to donate. Two cornerstone events remail for this year: the Gord Brown Memorial Golf Tournament on August 17 or the George E. Smith Memorial Fire Truck Pull on October 15.

According to the release, donations to the YMCA Strong Communities campaign 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

The Y said that they recognize that each person’s charitable journey is unique, and so have many ways to give. Visit their donation page at Canada Helps or contact the director of fund development and relationships, Amy Kirkland, at [email protected].