10 Finalists Selected in the Second Annual Win 4 Kids Contest and They Need Your Votes

GoodLife Kids Foundation is giving a total of $100,000 to programs across Canada

LONDON, ON, Feb. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - GoodLife Kids Foundation announced today the 10 finalists in their National Win 4 Kids contest. As part of the contest GoodLife Kids Foundation is giving away a total of $100,000 to programs across Canada that are helping kids have a healthier future.

After a National submission process, GoodLife Kids Foundation selected 10 finalists from the across Canada. All 10 finalists will receive grants but Canadians' votes will determine the amount of the grants they receive.  There is one $25,000 national prize, for the organization with the highest number of votes, along with three prizes of $12,000, three prizes of $8,000 and three prizes of $5,000.

The majority of the grant funds were generated through fundraising efforts by GoodLife Fitness staff, members, partners, friends and family at the national Spin4Kids Plus event—a one-day fitness fundraiser in support of GoodLife Kids Foundation. The finalists will receive their funding from Win 4 Kids at this year's Spin4Kids Plus event, taking place across the country on Saturday, March 7.

And the Finalists Are…

(In alphabetical order)

Algoma District School Board—Sault Ste Marie ON
The Brain Boosters program is a new initiative that will take place across 10 pilot schools and potentially every classroom in the Algoma District School Board (ADSB). Five minute long exercise routines available on DVD will be implemented in K-6 classes. Each Brain Booster session contains 12 unique workouts that kids can follow safely in the comfort of their own classroom. Teachers have the ability to access these DVDs at any time during the course of the school day.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Woodstock & District—Woodstock ON
The Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds program and Game On! Eat Smart, Play Smart, Live Smart programs are for youth ages 11-14. The programs are designed to help youth deal with challenges of growing up and fitting in. Activities for the 75 minute sessions are focused on developing healthy minds and healthy bodies.

Bridgeway Academy—Dartmouth NS
Bridgeway Academy equips students with the tools and knowledge they need to be successful in their next stage of life. The Active Chill Time program allows over 100 students between the ages of 7-17 with learning disabilities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to regroup and gather their thoughts, helping them refocus on learning when they return to class.

Crystal Bay Centre for Special Education—Ottawa ON
Crystal Bay Center for Special Education has an enrollment of 96 students who range in age from 4 to 21 years all of whom have a moderate to severe developmental disability and a second disability such as Autism, physical disabilities, deafness, vision issues or blindness. Our Physical Education Program accommodates the physical needs of the students by using modified equipment. Funds provided by Win 4 Kids would be used to purchase new, specialized equipment.

Easter Seals Newfoundland & Labrador—St. John's NL
Children with disabilities ages 8-14 are given the opportunity to be physically active in Easter Seals Newfoundland & Labrador's Wheelchair Basketball program. Some children with disabilities live a sedentary lifestyle due to limited access to inclusive program and activities. This program will not only help prevent life threatening illnesses but will provide an inclusive environment where the children can play and have fun together.

Hamilton Wentworth District School Board—Hamilton ON
The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board Foundation aims to get kids up and moving while emphasizing the importance of health and wellness with the Active Recess program. By providing a variety of new equipment for extra-curricular activities and an outstanding training program children will be encouraged to be more active through coordination from staff, parent volunteers and intermediate student leaders.

Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba—Winnipeg MB
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba created the New Lease on Ice program which takes place in an inner-city neighbourhood with high numbers of Aboriginal and newcomer populations. For the past four years the rink has been a flooded soccer field with no boards, no access to bathrooms and no place to warm up. This can be quite challenging during a Winnipeg winter. Approximately 60 children aged 6 – 14 will learn to skate and or improve their skating skills. 

Surrey School District #36—Surrey BC
Surrey School District's Sticks and Stars program addresses the unique needs of more than 100 at-risk grade 4-7 boys, who were not engaged in school or in organized sports or community-based activities and have demonstrated negative behavior and interest in gang related lifestyle. Surrey is BC's largest school district and 32 of 124 schools are designated inner city where low average incomes. Funds from Win 4 Kids would be used to expand Sticks and Stars to two additional schools in critical need of support.

Toronto Foundation for Student Success—Toronto ON
Beyond 3:30 is a free after-school program that currently runs in 16 middle schools located in Toronto's priority neighborhoods. The program provides students with a safe place where they can go and engage in physical activity through various active games and organized sport. Over 1,200 youth between the ages of 11-14 are currently enrolled and attend 3-5 days a week.

Youth for Christ—London ON
Youth for Christ (YFC) provides an After School Program for approximately 100 kids grades 5-8. YFC has the vision to help youth meet their basic needs and come along side families to work together to break the cycle of poverty and create sustainable development. YFC recently undertook the construction of an indoor skate park to enhance the After School Program. 

How to vote:

Canadians can vote by going to www.win4kids.com. Voting will take place from 11:59am EST on February 2 until 11:59pm EST on March 6, 2015. Organizations are encouraged to recruit as many votes as possible as there is only one vote per person.

The results:

On Saturday, March 7, 2015, all nine finalists will be asked to attend a Spin4Kids Plus event in their community to learn how much they'll get through Win 4 Kids!

Help spread the word and support your local organization:

GoodLife Kids Foundation will be profiling all ten organizations at www.win4kids.com

In addition to voting, you can support your organization by spreading the word in your community: share the  GoodLife Kids Foundation Facebook page, connect with @goodlifefkids on twitter and join the conversation using the hash tag #Win4Kids..

Interview/photo-ops are available upon request

About GoodLife Kids Foundation
GoodLife Kids Foundation is a private foundation with a vision for every Canadian kid to have the opportunity to live a fit and healthy good life. To date GoodLife Kids Foundation Grant Program has given $1.6 MILLION to almost 200 organizations, impacting over 221,000 Canadian children. To learn more about the GoodLife Kids Foundation Grant Program or the new GoodLife4Kids School Program go to: www.goodlifekids.com. Join the conversation on getting Canadian kids active: facebook.com/goodlifekids and @goodlifekids

SOURCE GoodLife Fitness

Media Contacts: Adam Roberts, Public Relations Specialist, GoodLife Fitness, 519-661-0190 ext. 424, [email protected]