date posted: 2008-11-03
With all the doom and gloom in the media these days, I thought I would write about two good news stories in our Town. Fifteen years ago we started the Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament and in our first year we raised $15,000. Since then, our tournament has grown more successful and this Fall we presented cheques to three worthy charities totalling $108,000! Hill House Hospice will establish a bursary for education and seminars for their dedicated nurses. The Krasman Centre will provide peer support and training to their psychiatric consumers and survivors, and the Lymphoma Foundation Canada will produce and distribute volunteer manuals across Canada and provide the first translation of its fact sheets for the Asian community. So far, our charity golf tournament has donated an astounding $891,000 to great local charities who serve our residents.
And there was another truly successful event this September, namely the grand re-opening of our first fully accessible park – Crosby Park. Over 2000 residents joined in a day of celebration and fun. The project was made possible in part by the generosity of a number of businesses, groups, and individuals in and around Richmond Hill. It is a joy to see people of all ages and abilities enjoy this wonderful park with all its accessible features.
A heartfelt thank you goes to a wonderful couple; Sandy and Glen Steplock. The Steplocks have two sons, one of whom has physical limitations and the other who is able bodied. Matheson and Zachary have inspired me repeatedly to lead the Crosby Park project to its successful opening – and now the Steplocks, like so many other Richmond Hill families, have a place where their two little boys can play together as equals!
As always, I can be reached at 905-771-2535 or awarner@richmondhill.ca.