Two charities, two distinct user groups, one thing in common: to promote a life without physical or educational limits. The Cerebral Palsy Association of BC (CPABC) and Room to Read® are at the heart of an upcoming charity golf tournament that raises thousands of dollars for worthy causes.
The 2017 Annual Charity Golf Classic will be held on July 11 at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Golf Course. Now in its sixth year, the event is organized by TMX Group, owner and operator of Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange, among other businesses.
To date, these tournaments have raised over $400,000 with the proceeds supporting important causes and initiatives in the community, like CPABC. The organization is focused on providing information, support and guidance to children, families and adults living with cerebral palsy (CP) in British Columbia.
Cerebral Palsy Association of BC
CP, which affects 1 out of every 500 individuals living in Canada, is an umbrella term for the group of disorders affecting body movement and muscle coordination. The association is currently in its sixth decade and was a recipient of the City of Vancouver 2013 Access & Inclusion Award. While it currently provides outreach, bursaries, community education, knowledge and referral services throughout the province, with additional help it can boost its support work and develop its programs.
How can the proceeds from the tournament help? “We believe that everyone deserves to live a Life Without Limits,” CPABC Executive Director Feri Dehdar says. “We want everyone with CP to reach their full potential and have the greatest opportunities in life.” Free classes in adapted dance, yoga, self-defence and art give participants an opportunity for active living and social inclusion. The Navigator and Pre-Employment programs help youth to tackle the transition to adulthood, and support groups for youth and seniors provide crucial peer-based dialogue and resources. Whether its disability benefits, employment, referrals to health services, or school supports, the CPABC is here to help.
With an office in Vancouver, Room to Read adopts a global approach working in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia. Headquartered in San Francisco, the organization collaborates with local communities, partner organizations and governments to ensure that primary school children in these developing countries can become independent readers and girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions.
More specifically, the Vancouver office partners with schools to address gaps across three areas that are critical to literacy learning: teacher training and support, quality reading materials, and child-friendly learning spaces. After assessing a school’s unique needs, it provides a tailored intervention to ensure students have the resources and support they need to flourish. So far it has helped three schools—two in India and one in Nepal.
And to Vancouverites who may ask why they should support overseas initiatives such as these, Room to Read responds with irrefutable logic: “We do not see educational investment as an either or proposition. Certainly every country could benefit from improvements in education, but in the communities where we work, a relatively small investment can have major impact in the lives of hundreds (or thousands) of children.”
The proceeds from the TMX Charity Golf Classic supports charities in our community and beyond. To become a sponsor or register for the event, please visit tmxgolf.com and download and complete the sponsor package form or registration form and return a scanned copy to Sonia Harding at [email protected].
