July 2010
Ontario
Barrie - Chatham - Durham (Ajax) - Hamilton - Iroquois Falls - Kingston - Kitchener-Waterloo - London - Mississauga - Niagara - Osgoode - Ottawa - Owen Sound - Quinte - Sarnia - Sault Ste. Marie - Sudbury - Thunder Bay - Toronto - Windsor - York Region
Barrie
Guns n’ Hoses – The Ultimate Rivalry
There was a friendly competition this year between Barrie Police, Barrie Firefighters and Military staff from Base Borden to see who could raise the most pledges. The winner: The Barrie Firefighters. And on Walk day, everyone showed up in uniform! The Barrie walk raised an amazing $23,000 – beating last year’s $19,308. We’re so grateful to those women and men in uniform for supporting Kids Help Phone. All three organizations have already committed to taking part next year and plan to make it even more successful.
Chatham
Nice Guys DO Finish First!
For years, Tim Lozon, Bell Aliant’s Manager of Community Affairs in Southwestern Ontario has been a huge supporter of youth programming of all types in his home community of Chatham Kent, both personally and professionally. Guess what? Tim won the WestJet Passport to Fun voucher for two people anywhere WestJet flies! Congratulations on a well deserved win Tim from everyone at Kids Help Phone!
Durham (Ajax)
Our walking shoes are water proof, and enthusiasm is high
On May 2nd, the community of Durham (Ajax) came out to support Kids Help Phone at Ajax Rotary Park and raised a fantastic $53,000! Special guests including Mayor Steve Parish were out with their walking shoes and we had great music from the Benchwamers and The Doubtsand! Despite some rain, everyone had a great day!
Hamilton
Styling Support with Colours and Crazy Hair
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The ladies at Cavalier Hair Salons and Marquis, the boutique next door, were never involved in the Hamilton Walk before, but they really burst onto the scene this year. Not only did they fundraise and promote the Walk for Kids Help Phone, they brought a huge team to the Walk site itself and set up a “Crazy Hair Tent” where they styled people’s hair with feathers and colour. As if that wasn’t enough, they also gave a gift to every single Hamilton Walker!
Iroquois Falls
Local Youth is an Inspiration to us all
In Iroquois Falls, 13 year old Nikki St Clair organized a community walk which raised over $500!
“My name is Nikki St. Clair and I am 13 years old. I organized this walk because I saw the ad on TV. I went to the website and looked at the walk locations, there wasn't one near me. So I emailed KHP and I was emailed back with some info on how to do this. I asked questions, got help and did a lot of organizing. Eventually, it all paid off. The day went great! I arrived at the walk starting point and got ready. A few minutes later a few of my friends showed up. We had about 10 people show up, not a lot, but great for a first time. When we were finished walking we got a picture taken. I thanked everyone that came, and we all went home. This was a great experience for me!”
Way to go Nikki! You’re an inspiration to us ALL!!
Kingston
Fundraisers go Neck and Neck for top Honours– the Winner’s Fundraising
Secret is Revealed!
Doug McKenna is a grade 12 student with a bit of a competitive spirit in him: visiting the online Walk for Kids Help Phone site everyday, he would scan the results of the top fundraiser (Vinnie Rebelo) and then run out and raise more funds! His secret for successfully doing so, and bringing in $4,000 for the Walk this year? “Getting the moms at the door.” Warning to all Kingston Walkers - Doug is ready for next year’s challenge, and only had these words to offer: “bring it on!”
Kitchener-Waterloo
A Reliable Walk Team is Like a Sturdy Table for a Walk “Chair”
When Walk Chair Matt Karger had a work-related week-long training session prior to the walk, he knew his team would need to step things up a notch in his absence. His Bell associates in Kitchener including former Chair Tonia Levac and Judy McDonald did just that – ensuring their great volunteer team was ready for May 2nd.
On Walk day, the dampness didn’t deter anyone from having fun. Then again with renowned children’s entertainer Erick Traplin on the stage, fun is always the name of the game. Great work team!
London
Sometimes the Most Important “Good News Stories” are Closer
Than You Think
Each dollar raised in support of the Walk for Kids Help Phone provides essential funding for the service and it’s availability to youth 24/7. But sometimes it’s those moments that are close to home that create special memories for staff and volunteers. One mother brought her husband and two kids to the walk and recalled how she informed her family they wouldn’t have a mother or husband if not for the support she received more than a decade earlier from Kids Help Phone. Another family had contacted Kids Help Phone to relay how the service had provided invaluable guidance to a daughter that year and they were walking as a family to say thanks. Special moments on a special day.
Mississauga
Walking off those bake sale calories for a good cause!
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When Stephanie Williams saw the Kids Help Phone ad on television, she rallied classmates from the Early Childhood Education program at University of Guelph Humber and her newly formed team “Babes Out of Breath” started baking; the team’s bake sales cumulated over $2,800 for the Walk for Kids Help Phone. Graduating student Erica Tomlinson from St-Joan of Arc high school also held bake sales; wanted to make her last few months as a high school student count, she, and 5 classmates, raised over $1,100 for the national charity in less than 2 ½ weeks.
Bell Creekbank is the name, successful fundraising is their game!
Bells’ Creekbank location held several events which resulted in tremendous funds raised for the Walk: Ranging from poker tournaments, raffles and silent auctions. Additionally Bell employees donated goods for K-Bay, the Bell ebay inspired auction named after Kerry Arbour. It has an organized payment and shipping system and once items are posted, other Bell employees were able to bid on some great items – all in support of Kids Help Phone!
Niagara
Empire Theatres Staff Put Best Feet Forward!
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This year, Empire Theatres in St. Catharines set their sights high, aiming to raise an amazing $10,000. The highlight of their fundraising campaign was Empire Theatres Movie Day where they offered discounted movie tickets with popcorn and organized a bake sale and all sorts of kids activities.
Osgoode
What you can do in Less Than a Month!
Team Ryan Keon wanted to hold a local Walk for Kids Help Phone in their community of Osgoode. They recruited over 30 walkers and raised over $4,000 in less than three weeks!! They reached out to local media outlets and secured some media cover in a local paper, and had a wonderful day walking with friends, family while at the same time educating people about Kids Help Phone in their community.
Ottawa
Bringing Communities Together and Hearing About Amazing People
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We have a wonderful lady who is now volunteering for the Ottawa Chapter. She actually came out to the Walk for the first time this year and won the WestJet Passport to Fun tickets. She felt her son James was glad she was there and was watching over the day. Here is her story in her own words…
Our wonderful son, James, took his life on September 20, 2004 without a word to anyone. We were all totally shocked because he appeared so easy going. It seemed that nothing bothered him. When it happened, someone donated to Kids Help Phone, which really registered for me. Since then I’ve been donating to Kids Help Phone. This year, I felt I needed to take the next step and get more involved so I registered for the Walk. I found it so inspiring and healing for me as a mother.
I often think that maybe if James had called Kids Help Phone, he may still be here. By supporting Kids Help Phone, it gives me hope that I am helping kids in need. We think that we know our kids but do we really. They need to know that there is a safe place out there that they can reach out to when they feel overwhelmed with today’s struggles especially when they don’t want to worry anyone close to them or have no one to turn to. Kids Help Phone is there!
I know that James is with me every day and I am so grateful for that. He was the most remarkable person I have ever met and there wasn’t a person that didn’t love him.
“Cheese Makers” get to the Bottom of Fundraising Stomachs
and Raise Big Bucks
The Parmalat - Winchester Cheese Makers committee organized a BBQ, Meatball Luncheon and Silent Auction Bake Sale. And boy do they know how to throw a picnic: thank you to everyone who donated meatballs, rice, scalloped potatoes, coleslaw, beans, baked goods, thank you to all who volunteered their time, purchased goodies at the luncheon and Silent Auction Bake Sale. The Winchester Cheese Makers are proud of their achievement in helping kids get through difficult periods of their lives.
Owen Sound
Puppets and Volunteers Walking, talking and supporting
Owen Sound’s Walk was blessed with the presence of Jackie Ralph, an outreach educator with the CMHA in Grey-Bruce through the Fan Club program. Her interactive puppet show dealing with educational issues such as anti-bullying and smoking messages was a great way for Kids Help Phone to “be there for kids” on Walk day. Jackie’s volunteer team also handled the WestJet Passport for Fun stops and kept smiling despite the rain. Job well done Fan Club team!
A local social service agency, YoutHab, put together one of the largest teams at the Quinte Walk for Kids Help Phone, including staff and youth clients. They raised a ton of money through friends and family, but focused most of their energy on three fundraising BBQs. At these BBQs, youth program residents flipped burgers, served soft drinks and played guitar. It was great to see youth, who maybe haven’t had such easy lives themselves, give back to other youth.
For many, the morning Walk for Kids Help Phone is a perfect way to start Sunday. For two Sarnia musicians it’s not quite that simple. Band CDDC has been performing at the Walk for Kids Help Phone almost since its inception. For them, the Walk is a true form of commitment to Kids Help Phone. The evening before, they played at a nightclub until the early morning hours. With just a brief sleep before the alarm sounded, they once again brought their talents to Sarnia’s Walk! It was a fun-filled day and music from CDDC was energizing fun for walkers.
Sault Ste. Marie
Selfless Volunteer Has Winner's Luck
Roy, a Bell Aliant employee, is an admirable supporter of Kids Help Phone. In 2009, he took a leave of absence to do a tour of duty in Afghanistan and organized a Walk team while there! Roy was also part of the organizing committee for the inaugural Walk in Sault Ste. Marie in 2008 and continues to support Kids Help Phone in so many ways. Well guess what?! Roy was the lucky walker who won the WestJet Passport to Fun voucher for two people anywhere WestJet flies! Thank you Roy for your continued support and congrats!
Sudbury
Walkers Passionate About Helping Kids
When a request was made, Maureen Keany O’Brien jumped at the chance to get her and her students from the Child and Youth Worker Program at Cambrian College involved. With a professional passion to being there for those children and youth who have no voice... this was a no-brainer! The Sudbury walk raised $14,000 and we couldn’t have done it without the enthusiasm of Maureen and her students!
In Thunder Bay, community supporters and volunteers raised $8,000. Chapter Chair, Debbie Lavia put it perfectly - “In Thunder Bay, we couldn’t have asked for a better day! The sun was shining and we had a noticeable increase in student participation; everyone had a great time raising money for a great cause!”
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who came out in support of Kids Help Phone!
Toronto
LoyaltyOne Helping Kids in More Ways With the Walk
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Alexandra Park Community Centre is located in downtown Toronto and is the heart of a low-income co-op housing community. One of its supporters is AIR MILES’ LoyaltyOne, which not only provides two annual scholarships and an allotment of AIR MILES reward miles, but also finds opportunities to empower the Alexandra Park youth outside the community. One example is the Walk for Kids Help Phone where kids from Alexandra Park enthusiastically fundraise, proudly wear AIR MILES designed t-shirts, and walk alongside LoyaltyOne associates.
Windsor
Mother-Son Team Raise the Bar in Community Support
Nick Tonita, a Bell World Store Manager in Windsor, was again chairing the Walk in the community… but this is a story about his mom! After finishing as the top fundraiser in Windsor in 2009 with close to $2,000 raised, Barb Bjarneson elevated her fundraising prowess to a new level and found 127 sponsors among family and friends in Windsor Essex, raising close to $6,000 this year. Now that’s a special mother/son combination.
York Region
Never Too Late to Put Your Walking Shoes on
In York Region, one mother and her daughter arrived at 11:45 and the official walk was essentially over and most participants were having lunch. But the eight-year-old daughter was determined to “walk so kids could talk”, and the mother/daughter duo went out on their own and completed the walk. While most participants were on their way out, and items had been packed away, a few site volunteers saved them some food and goodies for their return. They were an inspiration to the York Walk committee because it goes to show how passionate the community feels about supporting Kids Help Phone.
Check out more photos for these walk sites here.
