Golf fundraiser has best year yet helping children THRIVE

Organizers of a fundraiser in aid of a local child development centre say they are celebrating their best year ever.

The Soo Mill Rotary Charity Golf Classic presented a cheque for $55,000 to the THRIVE Child Development Centre Foundation with funds raised from its sold-out golf day in August at Crimson Ridge.

“It was a fantastic day and a great turnout,” said Soo Mill representative Katina Schell.

Find more details about THRIVE, and what the funds will help purchase, in the following release:

Yesterday, the THRIVE Child Development Centre Foundation was presented with a record-setting cheque of $55,000 from the Soo Mill Rotary Charity Golf Classic.

The event had their most successful year yet, and members of the Rotary Club, THRIVE, and Soo Mill gathered to commemorate this milestone.

The sold-out event took place at Crimson Ridge on Aug. 22, with 144 golfers and over 40 local sponsors coming together in support of the Centre, including Swiss Chalet, Manchu Wok, IDEA Inc., BMO, and Construction Equipment.

“It was a fantastic day and a great turnout,” said Soo Mill representative Katina Schell. “It was amazing to see so many enthusiastic people supporting THRIVE, which is such a great cause, and we’re really proud to be able to stand right beside THRIVE and help support them to move forward in their endeavours for supporting kids.”

THRIVE provides services and support to approximately 3,000 children and youth annually with diverse communication, developmental and physical abilities and goals.

Ada-Marie and Nicholas, and their kids, Milo and Noah, are one of the many families in the Algoma area who will benefit from this donation.

“We have been at THRIVE for a little over four years with both of our boys. We have used services like occupational therapy, speech therapy, and feeding occupational therapy. Basically, all the services we have used at some point and still use to this day!” shared Ada-Marie.

The tournament has been a major fundraiser for THRIVE since 2014, with Soo Mill becoming the title sponsor in 2022.

The money generated by the tournament is used by THRIVE to help children and youth learn skills that will help them succeed in their daily lives, such as providing enhanced needs-based services and purchasing equipment for therapy.

Below are some examples of services and equipment THRIVE will be purchasing or upgrading:

• Parallel bars: This item supports with building strength, coordination to support walking and balance - $7,000
• Development of a gross motor room: Climber - $2,000, balance beam - $1,000, mobility and balance training board - $500, Jump and balance therapy equipment - $2,000
• Gesture Tech: Display system that displays multimedia content onto floors and walls that is used in therapy to encourage movement, turn taking, recognition, and communication - $15,000
• Balance Bikes: Helps children learn to balance and steer a bike - $1,500 (4 bikes)
• Assistive Communication and Writing Aids - $20,000

Next year’s tournament is anticipated to take place Aug. 21, 2025.