S'port for Kids Foundation - Historical Timeline

History

Currently, more than 40,000 children and youth have been helped by the S'port for Kids Foundation, aiding in their personal well-being, physical, emotional and social development through involvement in organized sport.
January 1997	Inaugural Meeting: Participants from 14 sports clubs and organizations met with Richmond Hill business leaders to identify the urgent need to raise money for community sports teams.
May 1997	S'port for Kids Foundation was official incorporated as a not-for-profit organization. A&L Computer Systems, a high-tech firm in Richmond Hill provided the seed money for the Foundation.
May 1997	Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of the S'port for Kids Foundation and endorsed the concept.
June 1997	Community Awards: The Foundation honoured to two outstanding parents, at a Heritage Day fundraising event. Oakville resident, Dwight Lacey, CEO of CIBC Insurance and Senior VP of CIBC received the Community award for his work with youth and community sport teams. Steve Stojko, father of world figure skater champion Elvis Stojko, for his support of elite, amateur figure skaters.
June 1998	S'port for Kids hosted a special fundraising event aimed at providing financial assistance for one of Canada's brightest young athletes Emanuel Sandhu. Richmond Hill Councillors and business leaders joined sport celebrities Yvonne Tousek, Olympic gymnast and Emanuel Sandhu, Canadian figure skating silver medal winner.
October 1998	The Government of Canada granted the S'port for Kids Foundation a Canadian Registered Charity license.
June 1999	The Foundation was named an official charity and awarded $25,000 by the Richmond Hill Mayor's Golf Tournament.
February 2000	The Allocation Committee reviews applications for specific to fund community sports projects.
May 2000	Sports Ball 2000 - Major fundraising Gala and presentation of Sports Awards.
May 2001	S'port for Kids Foundation Gala 2001 and presentation of grants recipients.
October 2001	S'port for Kids Foundation $10,000 Grant to Toronto Police Service to support "Stay in School and Keep the Peace" Raptorball Basketball program for disadvantaged youth.
December 2001	Presentation: The S'port for Kids Foundation (SFK) will give thousands of underprivileged children in the GTA the hope and funds they desperately need to participate in team sports and buy equipment.
June 2002	Sport for Kids Ball, 2002 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants to Regent Park Community Centre, Stay in School and Keep the Peace Basketball, Toronto City Mission, and Yonge Street Mission.
June 2003	Sport for Kids Ball, 2003 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants to Children's Aid Foundation, ASSIST Community Services Centre, Zardasht Oqab, Toronto City Mission, Yonge Street Mission, and Regent Park Community Centre.
September 2003	Donation - In promotion of the DVD release of the sleeper hit Bend it Like Beckham, Twentieth Century Fox made a contribution to the S'port for Kids Foundation. The media had a chance to learn how to Bend it like Beckham! Craig Forrest former Canadian Men's National Team soccer player was on-hand to teach soccer basics and some tricks. Bend it Like Beckham for charity coincided with the FIFA 2003 Women's World Cup finals.
April 2004	Sport for Kids Ball, 2004 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants to Children's Aid Foundation, Durham Family Court Clinic, Toronto City Mission, Yonge Street Mission, Stay in School and Keep The Peace Basketball, Regent Park Community Centre, and Richmond Hill High School.
May 2005	Sport for Kids Ball, 2005 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants.
July 2005	Donation - On July 19th , 2005 our Hon. Chairman - Mayor Bill Bell, of the Town of Richmond Hill, presented a $20,000 cheque to the Sport for Kids Foundation. The donation was from the York Region Chairman- Bill Fisch Charity Golf Tournament. Sport for Kids was selected as one of their 2005 charities of choice.
May 2006	Sport for Kids Ball, 2006 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants.
February 2007	In 2006 family members of the late Ben Berry created a tournament, in memory of Ben, called the Ben Berry Memorial Fins and Skins Cup. The tournament raised just over a thousand dollars. A donation was made to the S'port for Kids Foundation, in February 2007, on behalf of the memorial for Ben Berry.
May 2007	Sport for Kids Ball, 2007 - Gala and Presentation of Sports Grants. Grants were awarded to The Ontario Camp of the Deaf, Richmond Hill Mobility, Stay in School & Keep the Peace Basketball, Durham Family Court Clinic, Children's Aid Foundation and the Richmond Hill Soccer Association.
June 2007	On June 26, 2007 Rogers Cable donated $10,000 to S’port for Kids. Rogers V.P. and our foundation chair – Earl Dusek was at the golf tournament to present the cheque to the foundation.
October 2007	The 2nd annual Ben Berry Memorial Fins & Skins Cup Tournament was a hugh success; doubling the amount of participants to 56 people. The event has hosted at a resort on Rice Lake, in Peterborough, Ontario. A donation was made to the S'port for Kids Foundation on behalf of the memorial for Ben Berry, in the amout of $2000.
December 2007	Shannon Forletta and Jennifer Trumble, students of Seneca College, started the “Suckers for Sports” campaign (selling gourmet lollipops), in 2007. Their effort raised over $400 for S’port for Kids in the name of the late Ben W. Berry.