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S'port
for Kids Foundation
175 West Beaver Creek Rd. Suite 6
Richmond Hill, ON
L4B 3M1 Canada
Tel: 905.886.4392
Fax: 905.886.6617
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New sports foundation honors dads
Richmond Hill Weekly
June 18, 1997
Steve Stojko
and Dwight Lacey were the recipients of early Father's
Day gifts this past weekend as they were presented
with the first awards by a new foundation formed
to support children's sports.
The presentations were made Saturday afternoon by
the S'port for Kids Foundation at Richmond Hill's
Heritage Village Day celebration.
Stojko, father of world champion figure skater Elvis
Stojko, was presented with the first award by the
Richmond Hill-based foundation for his contribution
to individual sport. An Oakville resident, Lacey,
CEO of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Insurance
and senior vice-president of the CIBC was honored
for the significant role he has played in team sports
over the past 40 years.
The S'port for Kids Foundation is an incorporated,
not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to
promoting the wholeness of youth through sport.
The foundation was created with a number of leading
business professionals who are volunteering their
time to raise funds for youth from six to 18 years
of age in organized sport, and to enhance the financial
resources available to individuals and teams in
Ontario.
Stojko has been actively involved in Elvis' skating
career and has also taken time to reach out to numerous
other skaters, encouraging them to believe in themselves
and to use their sport as a discipline and training
for life itself. In doing so, he has earned the
respect and admiration of aspiring athletes and
the figure skating community.
"A parent's
role is to advise their children that as long as
they do the best they can they are a true champion,"
said Stojko. |
"The mechanism
with which this program will operate has not yet
been fully defined but in order to ensure that it
will work effectively, in concert with the funding
and sponsorship methods already in place in many
associations, we are inviting representatives from
each type of sporting activity to serve in an advisory
capacity to help determine how best to implement
the system."
It is anticipated that the increased sponsorship
this program should generate will help to contribute
to the success of, and help raise the profile of
sporting activities in Richmond Hill. A&L anticipates
that should the program prove to be successful in
Richmond Hill, it could be extended to other regions.
To kick the program off, the Mayor of Richmond Hill
will drop the puck at the opening face-off of the
final home game of the Richmond Hill Minor atom
A Stars team at 2:40pm on Sunday, January 12 at
the Elgin Barrow East Arena in Richmond Hill. At
the same time, A&L Computer Software Limited
will present a team jacket to the Mayor.
A&L Computer Software Limited produces leading-edge
document imaging software and office management
software for doctors' offices and clinics. In announcing
the award, the foundation's honorary chairman Richmond
Hill mayor Bill Bell said, "Steve Stojko is
a model for all parents. The S'port for Kids Foundation
award recognizes his significant commitment to sport,
to inspire young skaters to pursue their dreams.
With the support of parents like Steve, young people
are able to master new life skills through sport."
Lacey, chief executive officer of CIBC Insurance
and senior vice president of CIB, has been named
recipient of the foundation award for team sports.
He is personally involved in organized sports in
Oakville and has made time to enhance the lives
of young people in his community through sporting
activities.
The S'port for Kids Foundation facilitates the physical,
emotional and social development of youth through
organized sport, by providing guidance and/or direct
funding to organizations or worthy individuals who
demonstrate they are in need, similar to the United
Way.
It was formed as the result of public discussion
sessions organized by local businessman Alex Yuan,
who has now accepted the position as the foundation's
chairperson.
Yuan said the group intends to broaden foundation
across Ontario and eventually across the nation.
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