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RREEPPOORRTT ______2019 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lynne Savela, A WORD FROM Chair

Josh Swearengen, OUR CHAIR.... Vice Chair For the past 5 years, I have enjoyed Austin Albany, Youth Representative volunteering as a member with the PRO Kids Board of Directors and this past year Cole Anderson as Chair of the Board. This has been an opportunity to volunteer my time, but most The generosity of our many activity Heather Collins important to me, it is the end goal of partners clearly display how successful Jason Garatti providing children and youth with an the partnership works and how valuable opportunity to participate in recreational the service is for many families. Seeing Heather Hyslop activities. the smiles on the kid’s faces as they Kathy Ball participate is all it takes for everyone to As a child, I was able to participate in many want to help out. Margaret Demillo recreational sports which provided me with life long memories, friendship and fun. As I would like to thank Laura and Ally, the Marla Poulin parents we were able to provide similar staff at PRO Kids for their enthusiasm and opportunities for our own kids as we knew energy while carrying out the day-to-day ______the value recreation would provide to them. operations of PRO Kids. It is evident they Developing social skills, self-esteem, living enjoy what they do. active lives, learning teamwork, celebrating FUNDRAISING wins and accepting losses along with These months are difficult times for our building life-long friendships and memories world as we are in the midst of the COMMITTEE are immeasurable. All children should have COVID Pandemic. This will continue to this opportunity. impact us long beyond this year. At the Alicia Turner time of this report, recreational activities Candace Begin Financial barriers are real obstacles for have stopped in the interest of our health. many families and when parents cannot In the months ahead, as we slowly return Cathy Britt afford the registration fees to register their to a new normal, I hope to see PRO Kids Ellen Lang child in an activity it is the kids who pay the continue to have a lasting impact on price. This past year PRO Kids provided children’s lives. Our hope is that we are Jackie Livingston 1,478 placements bringing the total able to continue to meet the demand for Karen Honan placements to 25,787 over a 21 year history. the service and to provide kids with This was a challenging year for PRO Kids as recreational opportunities to witness their Marla Poulin we were faced with some unforeseen cuts happy smiling faces once again. Rosanne Stasiewicz in funding. Sincerely, Sharon Mercier Our Fundraising Committee, Board Stephanie Bourelly Members, volunteers and staff worked hard at our fundraising events and out in the LYNNE SAVELA Susan Jones community to make sure that low-income Tricia Allan families are aware of this service. PRO Kids, Chair P R O K i d s 2 2 0 1 9

______VISION That all children and youth in Thunder Bay are able to participate in recreation activities which boost self-esteem and promote healthy growth through the learning of new skills, increased knowledge, and personal development.

______PURPOSE To provide program and financial assistance to as many children and youth as possible who, due to lack of funds, are not able to participate in registered recreation activities.

Financial barriers have been identified as one of the main obstacles preventing children and youth from participating in recreational activities. In Thunder Bay, 21.5% of children and youth aged are living in low income households according to the 2016 Census. That translates to approximately 4,095 children in our community.

Children from low income families are less likely to participate in extracurricular activities due to registration costs. This is concerning as recreation can provide children and youth the opportunity for developing social skills, enhancing their sense of self, taking on leadership roles while learning teamwork skills, experiencing the influence of positive role models and creating friendships.

PRO Kids is a registered charity dedicated to making sure recreation opportunities are accessible to Thunder Bay children and youth who are unable to participate in programs due to financial barriers.

Developed by the City of Thunder Bay Recreation & Culture Division, PRO Kids has been in operation since 1998. In those 21 years, PRO Kids has made over 25,780 placements of children and youth into Thunder Bay recreational programing. _

_ Low income families

_ Children between ages 0-18 PRO Kids _

_ The process is completely confidential _ When an application is approved, children/youth are HELPS _ fully integrated into activities 3 P A R T N E R S H I P 2 0 1 9

PRO Kids is able to help so many children thanks to its partnerships with the community organizations that offer 2019 PARTNERSHIP VALUE recreational activities in Thunder Bay. The community Parent Cost partners are crucial pillars in the support of PRO Kids Pa20re%nt Cost operations. They provide free and discounted registration 20% spaces in their programs. PRO Kids matches these spaces with children who have applied for assistance. Partner D In addition to the monetary benefit, offering spaces at a free or reduced rate provides activity providers with a PRO Kids sense of social responsibility. They have contributed back PRO KidsC Coostst 28%28% to the community and have provided children who would not normally have the resources to participate, a chance Partner Donated Value to develop life skills. Not only are they able to provide this, 52% but they also are able to witness it as well. Parent Cost $80,587 It has been my privilege to have partnered with PRO Kids since its inception. Together we make PRO Kids Cost $108,399 it possible for all children to enjoy and benefit _P_a_r_tn_e_r_ _D_o_n_a_t_e_d_ V__a_lu_e_ ____$_2_0_3_,_4_5_5 from Kindermusik! Kindermusik nourishes our hearts, our minds and our bodies as we make TOTAL VALUE $392,442 music together! What a joy it is to have Alia in my Kindermusik class! How her eyes light up as she explores a new instrument or dances with In 2019, activity providers donated $203,455 sparkly pom-poms! Over the years that Alia has worth of registration spaces. That represents been with me, it has been so exciting to see how music reaches into her very being. When she 52% of the total spaces used. Parents bursts out in song, “Twinkle, twinkle little star!” contributed 20% of the cost, which brought or pipes up with an answer, everyone in our the total bill for PRO Kids to $108,399. Through class is thrilled along with her! I love how Alia this three-way cost sharing, PRO Kids was gives her Kindermusik friends the opportunity to able to leverage registration spaces valued at grow more empathetic and understanding of each person’s uniqueness. over $392,000. This formula for success ensures that funds donated to PRO Kids —Susan, Susan's Kindermusik achieve their maximum potential of impact. 4 P A R T N E R S H I P 2 0 1 9

Art Dance Westfort Maroons Performing Arts Baggage Building Arts Centre Chaban Ukrainian Dance Co Westfort Rangers ACTions Arts Confederation College Dance Dynamics Studio Hockey Camps All the Daze Productions Gallery 33 Dance Basics Core Hockey Camp Eleanor Drury Children’s Theatre Thunder Bay Art Gallery Dream Dance Company Fox School of Hockey Magnus Theatre Willow Springs Creative Centre Experience Dance Haily Irwin Elite Hockey School Paramount Live Baseball Fay Gleeson Dance Centre Katie Weatherston Hockey School Photography Murillo Athletic Association Image Studio of Dance NWO Northern Lakes Hockey Develipment Confederation College Thunder Bay Girls Softball Assoc. International Dance Academy Rick St. Croix School of Goaltending Roller Skating Port Arthur Nationals Le Stelle Alpine Dancers Thunderwolves Hockey Skills School Thunder Bay Jr. Roller Derby League Westfort Internationals Legacy Performing Arts Centre Lacrosse Rowing Basketball Morgan School of Highland Dancing Thunder Bay Lacrosse League Thunder Bay Rowing Club Blaze Basketball Club Satu’s Bely Dance & Drum Leadership Running LU Athletics Spirit of Dance Canadian Red Cross Thunder Bay Meter Eaters Bowling Studio One Girl Guides of Canada Sailing Galaxy Lanes TB Society of Ballet & Dance Northern Lights-Parents & Child Program Sail Thunder Bay Mario’s Bowl Zorya Ukrainian Dance Ensemble NWOSSSAA Sewing Superior Bowladrome Diving Roots & Branches Sewing by Cherlyne Camps Thunder Bay Diving Club St. John Ambulance Skating Aurora Lutheran Bible Camp Thunder Country Diving Scouts Canada Fort William Figure Skating Club Biz Kids, NWO Innovation Centre Equestrian Martial Arts Thunder Bay Figure Skating Club Camp Gitchigomee Amanda’s Green Barn Black Tigers Tae Kwon Do Academy Thunder Bay Skating Academy Camp 911 Barnyard Friends Canada Games Complex Isshin Ryu Karate Thunder Blades Speed Skating Club Canada Games Complex Royal Denver Farms Current River Isshin Ryu Karate Skiing/Snowboarding Career Samplers (Confed. College) Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Hoku Shin Karate (Shotokan) Kamview Jackrabbit Ski League Chippewa Summer Camp Fitness Karate North Tae Kwon Do Lappe Nordic Ski Club Dorion Bible Camp Canada Games Complex Leading Edge Gym Lappe Nordic Ski Centre EcoSuperior Camp Confed.College Fitness Centre Moutainside Judo Loch Lomond Ski Area Evangel Church, Day Camp Push Fitness Centre North End Karate Club Mount Baldy Ski Area Finlandia Association Superior Cross Fit Sakamoto Judo Dojo Northwesters Alpine Ski Club Fort William Historical Park Training with a Pro Clinics Shotokan Judo Doji Thunder Bay Nordic Trails Kakabeka Falls Bible Camp Football Thunder Bay Judo Club Soccer LU Athletics Camp Thunder Bay Minor Football Assoc. Thunder Bay Shintaki Wado Kai Lakehead Express Soccer Club Maple Tops Activity Centre Golf Thunder Dragons Tae Kwon Do Lappe & Area Local Services Board Novocentre Thunder Bay Golf Thunder Bay Thunder Valley Marital Arts Lil’ Kicks Soccer NRP-March Madness Whitewater Golf Club UniteTdO FighTteAr TLhu nVderA BaLy UE Murillo Mino$r A3thle6tic0 A,s9soc0. 7.60 Redwood Kids Gymnastics West Thunder Akira & Kokoro Karate North End Mini Soccer Science North Giant Gymnastics Whitefish Martial Arts Tarbutt Street Soccer Club Superior Science Thunder Bay Gymnastics Assoc. Woodcrest Chitora Dojo Thunder Bay Chill Soccer Thunder Bay Boys & Girls Club Ultimate Gymnastics Music TB Inter Lucania Soccer Club Thunder Bay Museum Hockey Applauze Productions Thunder Bay Women’s Soccer Canoeing Current River Comets Avila Music School Swimming Lakehead Canoe Club Current River Mighty Mites Coran’s Music Education Centre Canada Games Complex Cheerleading Elks Minor Hockey Assoc. Gentlemen of Harmony Churchill Pool Dynamite Cheer Allstars Fort William Canadiens Growing with Musik-Musikgarten Northwest Narwhal Swim Club Miss Christine’s Cheerleading Fort William Hurricanes Jennifer Arra-Happonen Piano Superior Sea Lions Swim Club TCE Titans Grandview Rec. Hockey Jim Krawchuk Drums TB Thunderbolts Swim Club Climbing Hockey Northwestern Ontario-Clinics Kathleen’s Piano Studio Volunteer Pool Boulder Bear Climbing KC Minor Hockey Kindermusik with Mary-Ann Tennis Coding Neebing Minor Hockey Lakehead Suzuki Strings TB Community Tennis Centre MagiCode North End Flames Lakehead Youth Choir Volleyball Cooking Northwood Hockey League Make Some Noise Music Studio Thunderwolves Volleyball Marvelous Music Makers Superior North Volleyball Club RFDA Kids Cook Norwest Minor Hockey Assoc. Mr. J’s Music Studio Ontario Volleyball Assoc. Confederation College Port Arthur Minor Hockey Assoc. Music for Young Children Wrestling Curling South End Minor Hockey Music Workshop Lakehead Wrestling Club Fort William Curling Club Thunder Bay Beavers Musical Discovery W Suzannne Gilmore Yoga Kakabeka Falls Curling Club Thunder Bay Fighting Walleye Susan’s Kindermusik Discover Yoga Port Arthur Curling Club Thunder Bay Minor Hockey Assoc. TB Symphony Youth Orchestra Injoy Yoga Cycling Thunder Bay Women’s Hockey Assoc. Valente’s Music The Bodymind Centre Black Sheep Mountain Bike Club VP Bearcats Thunder Bay Cycling Club West End Bruins Westfort Hockey League

5 I M P A C T 2 0 1 9

In 2019, PRO Kids received 1,642 applications from families in need of support. With a placement success rate of 90%, 1,478 of these applicants were registered and fully integrated into community programming. This brings our 21-year running total to 25,785 placements.

Y E A R S O F P L A C E M E N T S

2,00 0

1,50 0

1,00 0

50 0

0 Parent Cost $67,440.85

1 1 9 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 13 4 5 6 17 8 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PRO1 Ki0ds C1ost 1 1 1 $114,81 70.175 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Partner Value $178,596.00 While over 1,600 applications were received, some of the families utilize PRO Kids service more than once a year. Families can apply to PRO Kids once every season, for a maximum of four times a year. With that in mind, PRO Kids assisted 979 individual children and youth access programs in 2019.

Of the applications received, the ratio of girl applicants to boy applicants is nearly 50/50. This has been a very consistent trend over the past 21 years of operation. Of the 0-18 age group that PRO Kids serves, 45% of the applications received are for children 6-10 years of age. It is important to note that these are the years that children begin to become more independentand develop physically, emotionally and socially. 6 I M P A C T 2 0 1 9

Many of the families who access PRO Kids apply repeatedly on a yearly “Thank you very much for the assistance for basis. In 2019, 189 new families representing 332 new children applied the kid’s sports. All four of my children are to PRO Kids. That is 189 additional families that PRO Kids is supporting. so grateful that they can participate in the sports they love. Moreover, being a single Over the years, PRO Kids has placed an average of 84% of applications mom with one wage and little support, this received. In 2019, this average was exceeded with 90% of applications is something that I will forever feel indebted to your organization for because placed. Applicants not being placed can be accredited to the activity it assists my family immensely, so thank not being available at the time of request or applicants not meeting you for all you do!” the criteria. In thes$e 3ca6s0es,,9 P0RO7 .K6id0s works with the family to find an alternative activity or to change the application to the appropriate time —Jen, PRO Kids Parent of year.

Fall remains the busiest registration season since most popular activities such as hockey and dance begin in September. These programs continue for a longer period, usually wrapping up in the spring. The chart below shows the distribution of applicant’s activity choices.

A child’s interest and their talents are diverse. PRO Kids prides itself in placing children into a broad scope of activities including arts, music and cultural programs, in addition to sports. NPota ornelyn dto eCs tohiss tprovide the children with options, but it also allows them to develop different life skills. Hockey may teach the child teamwork while an activity like music lessons will teach the child patience and perseverance. PRO Kids Cost Partner Value A C T I V I T Y C H O I C E S 2 0 1 9 TOTAL VALUE O T H E R

BASKETBALL CHEERLEADING CODING CURLING DIVING EQUESTRIAN FITNESS GOLF LACROSSE ROLLER SKATING SAILING SCHOOL PROGRAMS SEWING TENNIS WRESTLING 7 I M P A C T 2 0 1 9

“PRO Kids has helped my family for over twelve years. I am a mother of four and a grandmother of five, all of whom I have raised. Six of these children were assisted by and benefited from PRO Kids.

The service has supported my family in a number of activities like lacrosse, gymnastics, dance and of course, hockey. Hockey is huge for my family! My son is now twenty years old and it helped him througTh Ohis TeAntiLre VyoAutLh.U HEis coaches taught him m$a3ny6 s0kill,s9 o0n 7an.d6 o0ff the ice. My daughter started in IP1 with PRO Kids’ help, and now she has finished Midget and is going into her first year of the adult league of Thunder Bays Women’s Hockey.

My granddaughter is two years old and is in gymnastics. She is awesome; she is like one solid muscle! You see so much pride in her little face.

As we know, recreation helps our kids: particularly their self-esteem. They are all fighting their demons and discovering who they are. My daughter is going through that right now. What is helping and keeping her and others going is the various recreation activities that they do.

To each organization that accepts PRO Kids and donate spots in their programs, you do not know how much you are helping our kids, how much you are helping our families. Recreation is expensive and many families in our community are low or single income. Myself, I am in school and working when I can. Regardless of income, we all want our kids to have equal opportunity and not to have to make sacrifices. We try hard to provide for our kids the best we can. PRO Kids really takes a lot of that financial burden away and helps kids participate in activities that instills so many positive skills and values.

You do not know how much this service helps. The parents are the ones who would have to be paying but the kids are benefitting. It is the kids that are taking away all of the positive impacts of recreation, and taking away skills that they not only can use on the ice or the field, but at home, school, and for the rest of their lives.” Melanie Tibishkogijig, PRO Kids Parent 8 I M P A C T 2 0 1 9

We have developed a great partnership with PRO Kids where they provide an essential service for the vulnerable children of our newcomer families. They endlessly organize or match activities that the children desire. You could see how valuable this program is when a child’s face lights up and for a second, they forget their daily stresses due to receiving the news that he or she got approved for a certain activity. We appreciate all their hard work and their creative approaches that they provide to our community. –Joy, Thunder Bay Multicultural Association

PRO Kids continues to promote its service among 2019 REFERRALS people living in low-income residential areas and through social service agencies. A number of agencies act as references for PRO Kids applicants to confirm that the family is in financial need.

Financial statements, such as a Notice of Assessment or recent paystubs are sometimes provided as proof of income but are not required when applying to PRO Kids. Providing such documents can be perceived as being intrusive and, in some cases, deter qualified families from applying. In order to be more accessible and approachable, PRO Kids receives a number of referral sources, most of which are social service agencies such as Children’s Aid Society, Dilico, and the Thunder Bay District of Social Services Administration Board.

The following chart is a snapshot of the referral sources provided on applications. It allows PRO Kids to have a general idea of the families we serve and their demographics. 9 I M P A C T 2 0 1 9

E Q U I P M E N T In addition to registration fees, the cost of equipment is considered another large barrier preventing low-income families from accessing recreational activities. PRO Kids works with a number of partners and resources to combat this. 15 Kids______A Hockey Equipment Give-Away takes place in early fall, right in time for the new hockey season. Young hockey players in need are suited up in quality, lightly used hockey gear donated to PRO Kids. 15 kids were given equipment in 2019. $694______Through a partnership with Play It Again Sports, sports equipment is donated to the store and the value is assigned to a PRO Kids account. Children are then referred by PRO Kids to access the account for equipment they need. In 2019, $694 was accessed by 9 kids for skates, hockey sticks, helmets and various other sporting gear. 28 Kids______Through the Telus Cup, the Dreams Come True program allowed for additional children in our community to access hockey equipment. Hockey Canada, Fox School of Hockey and PRO Kids worked together to give 28 children brand new equipment. Not only were the kids suited up, but they also partook in a day of hockey training and received funding for their next hockey season registration. $2,750______In addition, PRO Kids refers families to Canadian Tire Jumpstart to access equipment. Through this online application, families can apply for up to $300 in equipment or registration fees biannually. Through Jumpstart, PRO Kids was able to help families access $2,750 in __e_qu_ipm_ent_ for_ 13 c_hild_ren_ in _nee_d. ______

Over the years, our community has donated their hockey equipment to PRO Kids to distribute to kids in need at our Hockey Equipment Give-Away. This year, in efforts to increase our inventory, PRO Kids launched a weeklong Hockey Equipment Collection campaign. The public account for equipment they need. In 2w0a1s8 ,e $nc4o5u4ra wgeads atoc dcoenssaeted efqour ispkmaetents ,a t the Canada Games Complex and the Kinsmen Centre from September 3-8. The response was overwhelming. More than two truckloads of hockey sticks, helmets and various other sporting gear. equipment were donated, helping us make sure every child in need had the opportunity to be suited up and ready to hit the ice!

In addition, PRO Kids refers families toT hCisa sntaodryi aspne Tairkes tJou mmpasntya trhti ntog sa tchcaet sasr ee qinu liipnem wenitth. tThher oPuRgOh K tihdiss philosophy. These include generosity of individuals our community, the importance of connections with other local online application, families can apply oforgra unpiz atoti o$n3s0, a0n idn tehqeu bipemneefnitts orf creogmisbtirnaintgio rne sfoeuersc ebsia tnon puraolvliyd. eT harcocuegssh for a cause. When Jumpstart, PRO Kids was able to help afall mthileieses tahcincgess sa l$ig2n0, g0r0e aint tehqinugips mhaepnpt efno.r T1h0a ct hisi lwdrheant PinR One Keids. is all about! 10 F I N A N C E S 2 0 1 9

In order to place almost 1,500 children into programs annually, PRO Kids relies heavily on the generosity of the Thunder Bay community. Annual fundraising is required to meet the operational expenses of the service as well as funds to pay registration costs.

The following chart shows 2019 revenue and expenses broken down by source.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a program that assists children ages 4 to 18 when R E V E N U E they are unable to afford registration costs for sports programs. Jumpstart will pay a maximum of $300 toward registration fees or equipment costs for a child. There are two terms when they can access these funds; January to June and July to November.

Parents apply online and funds for their child’s sporting activities go directly to program providers. Jumpstart has assigned PRO Kids a role in this process; as a checkpoint for all on-line applications for the region. PRO Kids reviews applications to ensure that they meet Low Income Cut Off criteria and that programs are E X P E N S E S relevant. PRO Kids then advances applications to Jump Start for payment.

This puts PRO Kids in a good position to recommend Jumpstart funding to local families, especially when program costs are high.

In 2019, Jumpstart supported 79 children in our region, paying $20,000 to community activity providers. 11 P R O K I D S 2 0 1 9 Have You Met . . . My name is Daniel Biscardi and I am the founder and organizer of The Back Yard Classic boot hockey tournament in support of PRO Kids.

The BYC started with a bunch of buddies looking to get together and play some hockey for fun with a little cash prize at the end.

Originally, we had just five teams, but this year we had 10 with three players and one goalie per team. This resulted in a larger cash prize that made us think we should give money back to people who need it more than us. PRO Kids is thrilled to introduce our Supervisor, and the With all of us being ex-hockey players, we realize City of Thunder Bay Sport & Community Development the importance of accessing recreation at a young Supervisor, Paul Burke! He is an amazing addition to our team, bringing a wealth of knowledge. age. Recreation can help boost a child’s self- esteem, teach them teamwork and allow them to Paul has worked for the City of Thunder Bay Recreation & make friends. With that in mind, we thought PRO Culture Division since 1989. In that time, he has helped Kids was the perfect charity! secure and host several major multi-sport games and championship events, including the 2016 Rogers We managed to raise almost a grand for PRO Kids, Hometown Hockey event, 2016 Can-Am Police-Fire and look forward to donating even more next year. Games and the 2011 Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games. His experience in events management is extensive, yet he still finds time to provide support on a number of committees and Boards, including Festivals & Events Ontario from 2003 to 2007.

Paul’s work with PRO Kids dates back to its inception in the 1990s where he helped structure the service’s fundraising plans. “PRO Kids has always held a special place in my heart”, says Paul. “I believe the work we do with PRO Kids is some of the most important, impactful work we do. Every day I am thankful for the PRO Kids partner organizations, staff, Board members, volunteers,sponsors and donors.”

We are very thankful to have you Paul! 12

A WORD FROM 844 OUR MARKETING Likes on Facebook & FUNDRAISING @prokidsthunderbay ASSISTANT...

Working at PRO Kids for my fourth year PRO Kids was also a part of not one, but two continues to be ajust as fulfilling as the campaigns. The Sleeping Giant Brewing first. The most obvious reason being that Company launched #CraftCares, a third every action, decision and plan we carry party campaign that allowed its vendors to $450 out are in efforts to help children and choose a charity. For every SGBC product youth in our community. We work hard to sold a portion was donated to PRO Kids. The Raised caroling with help families in Thunder Bay access campaign raised $11,000 with $858 in recreational activities for their kids. Talk support of PRO Kids, and just as importantly it the Travelling about motivation! provided a sense of community and support! Cranberries

In order to help as many families as We also launched our first Giving Tuesday possible, PRO Kids started the year with a campaign, #PasstheBuck. This initiative was re-evaluation of our fundraising strategy. positioned to help families who cannot afford We love our events—they are so much fun! to register their kids in hockey. With the help There does come a time, however, when of LH North and Partners in Rehab, we were the labour and time going into preparing able to raise $7,600 in one day! $7,825 the event is greater than the amount raised. With that in mind, we looked at In line with our fundraising strategy, we hope Raised at first ever each of our fundraising initiatives, and to launch an annual campaign! Our future realigned our strategy with channels that plans also include the adoption of our new Quiz Night fundraiser had a great return on investment. donor software. With this new software, we hope to reinforce relationships with our It is likely due to the reassessment that we existing donors, and attract new ones through were able to increase funds raised from communication tools. $111,871 in 2018, to $127,230! I would like to thank our donors and We did maintain most of our fundraising supporters for allowing us to continue making #PASS events, and even introduced a new one! an impact and providing recreational Our first ever PRO Kids Quiz Night took opportunities for Thunder Bay’s children and THEBUCK place on March 22 at the Finlandia Club. youth! A definite 2019 highlight! It was a packed First Giving Tuesday house with 17 teams of 8 participating and ALLY DROMBOLIS Giant Quiz Night hosting with a variety of Campaign raised over trivia prepared. PRO Kids Marketing & $7,000 for hockey Fundraising Assistant registrations 13 2 0 Y E A R S O F S U P P O R T

2018 DONORS AND SPONSORS

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS ( $10,000+ a year )______City of Thunder Bay The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board

GRAND SLAM ( $5,000+)______George Jeffrey Children's Foundation John Andrews Foundation Levaero Aviation LH North Resolute INC. United Way of Thunder Bay

TOUCHDOWN ( $2,500+)______Jessica McMahon Tbaytel Thunder Bay Community Foundation

PIROUETTE ( $1,000+)______Cliff Friesen Frank Cava Memorial Golf Tournament Keith Lord Sport Foundation Fund held at Vancouver Foundation Lakehead Express Soccer Club Loblaws Inc. Mac's Convenience Stores North Star Ltd. Partners in Rehab Private Air Inc. Grant Thornton Revolution Belting Russell Investments Shaw Communications TBT Engineering Thunder Bay Professional Fire Fighters Assoc. White Pine Electric Ltd.

STANDING OVATION ( $500+)______Boston Pizza Dino DiGiuseppe Doug Wood Holy Cross School Mary Lynn Sawdo OMVIC Board of Directors & Staff RBC Dominion Securities Robert Piccolo Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxilary-PA Branch #5 Sign Design Superior Elevator Ulc. Thunder Bay AAA Kings Thunder Bay Police Chairty Foundation Thunder Bay Real Estate Board TOTAL VALUE $360,907.60 KICK OFF ( $250+)______Aly Miedema Auto Home Paints Brian Vistorino Calvary Lutheran Chuch Fay Gleeson Performing Company Shawn Comeau Freedom 55 Financial Janice Sewell Lee-ann Swearengen Marla Poulin MNP LLP North Rock Environmental Summit Pipeline Services Vector Construction Ltd. Westfort PeeWee A Power Rangers Hockey Youngs Insurance Brokers Inc.

FANS ( $100+)______Adrian Minnella Barbra Evans Beverly Ball Brian Drombolis Brenna Pugh Bruce Miault Carla Dubois Casy Gallant Catherine Peterson Clayton Shaw CUPE Local 87 Dana Pugh David Williamson Dawne Marie Macleod Dynamic Painting Edgewater Park School Fenny Seinen Heather Hyslop Isabel Van Ramshorst Josee Malette Jim Steele Jessy Kantola Katie Burton Kaye Stein Ken Jennings Kristi Lees LSPC/211 North Laura Scocchia LU School of Kinesiology Malcolm Ranta Marcel Gagnon Matthew Miedema Municipal Engineers Association Nancy & Don Burton Paul Burke Paul Hebert Phil Smith Pope John Paul II School Robert Fowler Rosy Brizi Ruthanne Williams-Casey Shawn Dagenais Shawn Kunnas Sheelagh Hendrick Sheila Purvis St. Anthony's Church Suzanne Comuzzi T & C's Ozone Terry Templeman Thunder Bay City Council Tom Deacon

MEMORIAL DESIGNATIONS______Families asked that donations be made to PRO Kids in memory of the following loved ones who passed in 2018 Andrew Miedima Henry Poirier Doreen Northway Kenneth Peterson Nicholas Girardin

14

A WORD FROM OUR COORDINATOR...

The mandate of PRO Kids is to place children in activities when fees are a barrier to access. On occasion, there are other programs that come along to help boost this mandate. PRO Kids welcomes opportunities to partner with other programs that provide benefits to our clientele.

An example of such a program occurred in 2019, and it was a highlight for the year. The Telus Cup (National Midget Hockey Championships) was hosted in Thunder Bay in April, and through that came Hockey Canada’s Dreams Come True Program. This program is suitably titled, as 28 children identified by PRO Kids, received brand new hockey gear including the stick and hockey bag. As one of the girls was putting on her new helmet, she said to her Aunt (who was 16 years old), “Look Auntie, we don’t have to share a helmet anymore!”

While kids happily flaunted their new attire, parents were brought to tears, overwhelmed with gratitude over the generosity of this gift that would provide the maximum protection for their children so they could participate in the sport they loved. As one parent put it, “My kid is all shiny now!” The children participated in an on-ice clinic led by our local Fox School of Hockey. I spoke with one grandmother who said that her grandson, Andrew, spent most of last season falling and staying down on the ice, but that didn’t stop him from loving hockey. One of the Fox instructors approached Andrew as he sat on the ice and held a stick horizontally. Andrew held on to the stick and got up, while the instructor skated backwards pulling him along. After a while, I looked for Andrew, expecting to find him down on the ice, but he was skating on his own and had more confidence. That’s all it took. Someone to support him for a bit.

The Dreams Come True program approached PRO Kids because of our connection with families in financial need – especially kids who played hockey. I was so proud to be part of this project. It had little to no media attention. Children were not singled out and parents were not pitied. It was done quietly and with dignity and resources were distributed where they were needed most. In addition to this, Hockey Canada covered hockey registration costs of up to $450 per child for the following hockey season. What a gift! Thank you Hockey Canada.

So, the mandate has not changed but PRO Kids has certainly attracted programs that benefit our clients. We are delighted about this and will continue to partner with programs that provide a mutual benefit. LAURA DANIELE

PRO Kids Coordinator PRO Kids

City of Thunder Bay Recreation & Culture Division Victoriaville Civic Centre 111 Syndicate Ave S Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6S4

Phone: (807)625-3212 Fax: (807)625-1444 [email protected] www.prokidsthunderbay.ca