Local KidSport chapter receives donation

KidSport Sault Ste. Marie announced a $5,000 donation on Monday. The release is below: 

KidSport Sault Ste. Marie is proud to announce a successful launch as a local chapter of KidSport Canada. With the reality that cost keeps one in three Canadian kids out of organized sport, the charity has been busy helping over 73 local children register for sports.

As a chapter of KidSport Canada, which has been operating for over 30 years, the newly-formed Sault Ste. Marie chapter is dedicated to removing financial barriers that prevent children from participating in organized sports. By providing grants to families in need, KidSport helps to ensure that all children can experience the joy and benefits of playing team sports, fostering essential life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

In a generous show of support, The Intrinsic Financial Group of CIBC Wood Gundy, located in Sault Ste. Marie, presented a cheque of $5,000 to KidSport Sault Ste. Marie. The cheque presentation took place at GFL Memorial Gardens in the presence of Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and KidSport Sault Ste. Marie board members; Lauren Signoretti, Marla Slumskie, Adriana Kairiss and Jessica Casola. Adam Slumskie, Andrew Lepore and Jessica Casola also represented the team at The Intrinsic Financial Group.

As they continue striving to get more children and youth off the sidelines and into the game, the $5,000 donation from The Intrinsic Financial Group will help reduce financial barriers for families and allow at least 10 youth to participate in a season of organized sport in Sault Ste. Marie.

Mayor Matthew Shoemaker expressed his full support for KidSport.

“KidSport Sault Ste. Marie is providing an invaluable service in our community by helping to ensure that children can experience the benefits of playing team sports. Participation in sports fosters teamwork, discipline, and confidence, and I am proud to support an organization that is committed to breaking down barriers for our youth," Shoemaker said.

“On behalf of KidSport Sault Ste. Marie, we want to thank Mayor Shoemaker for his presence today and acknowledgement of our local chapter,” said Lauren Signoretti, KidSport Sault Ste. Marie Chair. “It is important to us that we work with community services and businesses to raise awareness that we are available as a form of support to local families.”

During their first year as a local chapter the board members of KidSport Sault Ste. Marie have built relationships with youth sports leagues and many local social services and organizations geared towards youth. Signoretti adds, “We invite community organizations that support youth to reach out if they have clients who could benefit from our grants.”

At the cheque presentation, Adam Slumskie, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor of The Intrinsic Financial Group, also proudly announced the launch of a new campaign that will raise additional funds for the local chapter. The “Play it Forward” campaign will encourage community engagement and excitement for local sports by donating $75 for every goal scored by the Soo Greyhounds during home games to KidSport Sault Ste. Marie.

“The Intrinsic Financial Group, is proud to support the work that our local chapter of KidSport is doing to get more children involved in organized sport programs in the city,” said Slumskie.

“By launching the ‘Play it Forward’ campaign we can combine cheering on our Soo Greyhounds with a commitment to investing in local youth. My team proudly stands behind the idea that every child deserves to play, to learn new skills, to make new friends, and most of all, to have fun.”

“We are incredibly excited about this new campaign. The dollars raised with the 'Play it Forward' campaign will help remove barriers to participation, creating new opportunities for Sault Ste. Marie’s youth to realize the benefits of active recreation, while supporting more parents and families as they manage their household budgets” said Signoretti.

“We are grateful to The Intrinsic Financial Group for recognizing this need and partnering with us to fund community sport participation for children in need. This initiative will have a direct impact on ensuring that kids can register for their favourite sports and not miss out on all the amazing benefits that participation provides.”

KidSport Sault Ste. Marie is incredibly grateful for the community’s support since the local chapter’s launch in 2023, which has included generous donations and participation in fundraising events. All funds raised remain local, ensuring that every dollar goes directly towards helping children in the community by paying local sports league registrations or purchasing equipment from local retailers. Together, we can ensure that all children in Sault Ste. Marie have the opportunity to play.

For more information about KidSport Sault Ste. Marie, to apply for assistance, or to support our mission, please visit kidsportcanada.ca/ontario/sault-ste-marie/ or contact saultstemarie@kidsportontario.ca.