The 10 finalists have been selected –it's time to cast your vote, Canada
LONDON, ON, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - GoodLife Kids Foundation announced today the 10 finalists in the national Win 4 Kids contest. Through the contest, GoodLife Kids Foundation is giving away a total of $100,000 to programs that are helping Canadian kids get active.
GoodLife Kids Foundation selected 10 finalists out of nominations submitted from across Canada. All 10 finalists will receive grants, but online votes will determine the amount they will receive. There is one grand prize of $25,000, 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.
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. Finalists will find out the results of the contest during surprise cheque presentations at local Spin4Kids Plus 2016 events taking place across the country on Saturday, March 5.
And the Finalists Are…
(In alphabetical order)
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering's Power Play – Mentoring Through Sport program addresses the growing need for accessible, inclusive physical activity opportunities. Targeting at-risk children and youth, ages 6-16, in Durham Ontario Region, the program will be delivered during the school year as eight week sport programs and one-day sport events. Each session includes a warm up, active co-operative games, fundamental movement and sport skills, a cool down and a wrap up discussion to summarize the day's learning.
Caledonia Middle School
Caledonia Middle School is located in the rural village of Hillsborough, NB. There are approximately 165 students ranging from 9-14 years of age. Project P.O.W.E.R.S promotes healthy active living and provides all students with an opportunity to experience a variety of activities. The activities offered include yoga, Nordic hiking, ultimate Frisbee, disc golf, resistance training and many more. The program will offer activities during lunch and after school so students have the opportunity to be active approximately 135-150 minutes per day. Weekly, this adds up to 10-11 hours of activity.
Camp Awakening
Camp Awakening offers two summer camp programs that give Ontario youth with physical disabilities the opportunity to increase independence, make lasting friendships and build confidence. Camp Awakening campers participate in a variety of recreational activities – including at least four to six hours of instructional physical activity daily. Activities include swimming, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, basketball, sledge hockey, soccer, tennis, challenge courses and so much more!
Canada Scores Vancouver – A Charitable Society
Canada SCORES Vancouver is a non-profit youth development organization that inspires urban youth to lead healthy lives. They provide complimentary soccer and literacy after-school programs for elementary school children in Burnaby and Surrey, BC. The program provides mentorship for the students to enrich and empower their lives by using fitness and team sport engagement. Through the program, students will improve their social skills, learn leadership and commitment skills, learn how to be part of a team and have fun all while staying active.
Recreation Outreach Centre (ROC)
Club ROC's Kids In Motion program provides mentorship and opportunities in physical activity, recreation, social and skills development. Engaging in fun activities and exposing children to new experiences, Kids In Motion promotes self-esteem, supports academic achievement and promotes positive healthy choices. The program is hosted in Prince Edward County, ON and is offered to all boys and girls, particularly benefitting those less advantaged or at risk.
The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement
Free2BMe, the children and youth component of The Steadward Centre provides individuals experiencing disability in Edmonton, AB the opportunity to gain the physical confidence and competence needed to engage in physical activity, sport and fitness programs. Through the Physical Activity Led by Students (PALS) program undergraduate students instruct children living with impairment in fundamental movement skills based programs designed and supervised by Adapted Physical Activity Consultants. Children enjoy 30-minute one-on-one activity sessions working towards individualized goals with their mentors as they develop their motor skills, strength and balance.
St. Jerome Sunshine Preschool & Elementary Functional Academic Program
St. Jerome School in Regina, SK offers special educational programming for students with intensive needs. Funds from Win 4 Kids will allow St. Jerome School to initiate the LEAP (Learning Everyday & Actively Participating) Program to provide their students with intensive needs access to physical activity programming that is currently lacking. The students with intensive needs typically do not participate in these activities due to a variety of factors, particularly the lack of an available support person. LEAP will expose students to a variety of activities such as martial arts, yoga, swimming, and soccer that they may not otherwise have access to.
Spence Neighbourhood Association
Building Belonging is a free after-school and summer program established in 2002 for disadvantaged children ages 6-12 from the Spence Neighbourhood in Winnipeg, MB. Building Belonging partners with local organizations, businesses and recreational instructors to encourage an active and healthy lifestyle while providing opportunities for participants to try new sports and explore new activities.
Town of Cormack Recreation Commission
The Town of Cormack, NL is a small agricultural community home to a population of approximately 600 residents that lies an hour from Corner Brook. Children taking part in Cormack's year-round recreation programs are kept active with a combination of introductory sport activities and unstructured play. Programming is offered year-round and is a true community effort, supported by student and parent volunteers.
Yorkview Public School
Yorkview Public School in North York, ON educates students from JK-Grade 5. The community is culturally diverse, with students representing 59 different countries from around the world. Many of the students have had little or no opportunities to experience the benefits of extra circular physical activities due to cost and access to programs. Yorkview Outdoor Play Enrichment Program was created to provide students the opportunity for free play and physical activity. The program entails various games including Frisbee, football, road hockey, tennis, and many more organized activities.
How to vote:
Canadians can vote for their favourite charity by going to www.win4kids.com. Organizations are encouraged to recruit as many votes as possible, as there is only one vote per person.
Voting begins at 11:59 a.m. February 1 and is open until 11:59 p.m. on March 4.
The results:
On Saturday March 5, all 10 finalists will be asked to attend a Spin4Kids Plus event in their community to learn how much of the $100,000 they'll win through Win 4 Kids!
Help spread the word and support your local organization:
GoodLife Kids Foundation will be profiling all 10 organizations at www.win4kids.com.
In addition to voting, you can support your organization of choice by spreading the word: share the GoodLife Kids Foundation Facebook page, connect with @goodlifekids on Twitter and join the conversation using the hashtag #Win4Kids.
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 has impacted over 235,000 Canadian children through physical activity opportunities supported by the GoodLife4Kids School Program, Grant Program and Win4Kids contest.
To learn more about GoodLife Kids Foundation's programs, go to www.goodlifekids.com. Or join the conversation on getting kids active: facebook.com/goodlifekids and @goodlifekids.
GoodLife Fitness covers 100 per cent of our administrative and operational expenses so that every dollar raised will make the biggest impact on the lives of Canadian kids.
Interview/photo-ops are available upon request
SOURCE GoodLife Kids Foundation
Image with caption: "GoodLife Kids Foundation is giving away $100,000 to get kids active in the Win 4 Kids contest (CNW Group/GoodLife Kids Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160201_C5965_PHOTO_EN_610042.jpg
Media Contact: Erin Whitney, Public Relations Coordinator, GoodLife Fitness, 519-661-0190 ext. 336, [email protected]
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