Golf tourney, Rotary draw tee up $45K donation to child centre

Funds raised at this summer’s Soo Mill Rotary Charity Golf Classic, along with funds from Rotary's Take Your Pick draw, were donated this month in support of a local child development centre.

Supporters gathered to present a cheque for $45,000 and thank a number of local sponsors who supported the golf tourney, which was described as a record-breaking year in terms of funds raised.

Find more details in the following news release from the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie:

Members of the Rotary Club of Sault Ste Marie met with Joel Rowswell, president of Soo Mill, at THRIVE Child Development Centre to present a cheque for $45,000.

“THRIVE does vital work in our community, providing high-quality child care and early learning programs to families with children that need support. Soo Mill is proud to be able to contribute to their important work,” shared Rowswell.

“As a company, we're committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and we hope that our donation will help THRIVE to continue making a difference in the lives of children and families in the Algoma District and beyond.”

Kendra McInnis, a current THRIVE member, is a shining example of the services the centre provides to local families.

“THRIVE has been part of our lives since Kendra was a baby, so nearly 12 years. All of her therapists have been so fantastic, and with their help, Kendra has seen improvement in all areas. She’s always surpassing milestones and surprising her therapists,” shared Kendra’s mother, Sherry.

“THRIVE has been a great support for not just Kendra, but our whole family. It doesn’t compare to anything else.”

Kendra, 11, says, “Thank you to THRIVE for all the support!”

Gabriele Scholz-DiTommaso, Rotary Club president, and Pino Caputo, THRIVE board member and Rotarian, presented the cheque alongside Soo Mill as part of their partnership at this summer’s Soo Mill Rotary Charity Golf Classic. The tournament included on-course activities and a live auction that raised $7,350 of the final total.

“We want to thank all of the amazing participants that showed up to support one of this city's premier golf tournaments," said Caputo. "Financially, it was a record-breaking year, all in support of THRIVE!

"We want to thank our title sponsor, Soo Mill, for their generosity and commitment to their ongoing support. We also want to thank longtime sponsors Thomas & Kabrena Breen and Swiss Chalet, and this past year a new sponsor with the soon to open Manchu Wok led by Matt D’Ettore and Kelsey Breen. If you are looking for an awesome event to support in 2024, please give our tournament some thought.”

How can you support Rotary’s Charitable projects?

Consider purchasing a Rotary Take Your Pick ticket this holiday season. The Rotary Take Your Pick Draw has supported hundreds of charitable projects within our community.

Proceeds from last year’s Take Your Pick Draw have helped organizations such as THRIVE Child Development Centre, Therapeutic Ride Algoma, United Way Sault Ste. Marie, and Harvest Algoma; supported Rotary’s high school and post-secondary scholarships; and allowed three local students to represent Algoma at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Edmonton.