The 19th anniversary of the event sets a $250,000 goal – its largest ever.

St. Catharines, ON – Each year, more than 5,800 children and youth in Niagara with physical, developmental and communicative delays are supported by the range of services offered at Niagara Children’s Centre. Those services are made possible, in part, by the Centre’s annual Help Kids Shine fundraising campaign. Throughout the month of May, the Children’s Centre fundraiser encourages community donations to ensure that they can continue to provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation to Niagara families in need. To help the Centre achieve this year’s milestone, O’Hara Trucking & Excavating has signed on as the monthly donor matching sponsor, pledging up to $25,000 to monthly donations made during the campaign.

Niagara Children’s Centre will officially kickoff the month-long campaign at the Four Points by Sheraton in Thorold on Thursday, April 28 at 10 a.m. Special guest speakers at the event include Sarah Ane, whose son Daniel received treatment from the Centre for his Autism diagnosis over a number of years. Tom McConnell, radio host on NewsTalk 610 CKTB and chair of the Help Kids Shine cabinet, will also speak on behalf of Bell Media, a presenting sponsor for the annual fundraiser. Guests will also hear from Mat Siscoe, Regional Councillor (St. Catharines) and Board Chair at Niagara Children’s Centre, who will speak on behalf of the Centre and the importance of community donations.

What:

Niagara Children’s Centre to launch 19th annual Help Kids Shine fundraising campaign.

Who:

Jim Bradley, Regional Chair, Niagara

Mat Siscoe, Regional Councillor (St. Catharines) and Board Chair at Niagara Children’s Centre

Tom McConnell, The Tom McConnell show on NewsTalk 610 CKTB and chair of Help Kids Shine cabinet

Sarah Ane, mother of child receiving treatment at Niagara Children’s Centre

Oksana Fisher, CEO, Niagara Children’s Centre

Jeff Burch, MPP, Niagara Centre

Jennie Stevens, MPP, St. Catharines

Where: Four Points by Sheraton, Thorold

When:

Thursday, April 28 – 10 A.M. (EST)

Why:

Every year, the Help Kids Shine campaign raises money for Niagara Children’s Centre. Money raised benefits children and families in Niagara, providing funding for additional therapy services while ensuring as many children as possible get the support they need each year.  Funds raised also help support additional programs that are not covered by provincial government funding, such as recreation therapy, behavioural consultation services, family to family support programs and aquatics.