The Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation is pleased to announce its support of the Youth Services Bureau and the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation in 2016.
“It’s a great honour for YSB to be the top-tier charity of the Dragon Boat Festival,” said Joanne Lowe, Executive Director of YSB. “As the largest fundraising festival in our city, the funds that are raised have a significant and positive impact on the youth who access YSB programming.”
“We are thrilled to have been selected as one of the charities benefitting from this exciting community event,” comments Dave Newnham, President of THCF. “This support will help us provide enriching camp experiences that build lifelong skills for children from low-income families living in the Ottawa area.”
In addition, the organization is proud to introduce the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation Community Fund which will provide increased opportunities for charities to continue their significant work and support immediate needs in the community.
The Foundation’s Community Fund will allow more charities to apply for funding throughout the year under the categories of community health, community development and community services. Selected charities will receive funding up to $10,000 for new and existing programs or projects. Foundation CEO, John Brooman says “Our new charity model is unique, inspired and extraordinary in every way. The Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation has raised millions over the years, and now we are into an incredible new growth phase of community giving.”
The Foundation, paddlers, volunteers and friends raise funds throughout the year in support of the Foundation’s mission to support local charities. Funds are primarily raised through a Pledge Challenge taking place in and around the festival where paddlers raise funds by asking for donations and organizing various events and creative initiatives. Director of Fundraising & Teams, Shelley Freake, says “We are so proud of our teams who dedicate so much time and energy to fundraise for our deserving charities. Their commitment to our charitable giving continues to amaze us and our Community Fund will allow us to help even more members of the community they care so much about”.
About the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation
The Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation was established in 2003 and to-date through its annual fundraising it has raised $3.7 million, benefiting 40 local charities.
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