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KIDS BIZ Newsletters:
June 2008
Kids Up Front recieves 500 tickets for The 2008 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic!
A big thank-you to Achilles International Track and Field Society for their generous donation of 500 tickets to this international event! For more information see www.harryjerome.com
May 2008
Capers Whole Foods Supports Kids Up FrontFrom May 19th – 24th Capers Whole Foods Market – Robson street location only, will donate $1.00 for every Feed Bag sold to Kids Up Front.
When a Whole Foods Market customer buys a FEED 100 bag, $10 will be donated by FEED Projects’ foundation, FEED Foundation, to the World Food Program’s Rwanda School Feeding operation; with the remainder going to cover the costs of the bag and oversight of the program by the FEED foundation. To further help the initiative, Whole Foods Market is not making a profit by offering the bags to its shoppers.
The United Nations World Food Program is the world's largest humanitarian agency, feeding 88 million people in 78 countries around the world. Hunger and poverty still claim 25,000 lives every day, and 400 million kids go to bed hungry every night. World Food Program's innovative food aid projects, like School Feeding, help the poor break out of the poverty trap and build a sustainable future.
For more information visit:capers-whole-foods-supports-kids-front
Kids Up Front is pleased to be the recipient charity for:
Featuring 23 films from around the world on environmental and sustainable issues.
For more information on the film festival and to purchase tickets please visit: http://www.projectingchange.ca/
Kids Up Front recipient charity for Next On Deck Hip Hop Showcase
2008 Showcase Dates:
Wednesday, May 7
Tuesday, May 13
Wednesday, May 28
Door: 9:00 p.m. Performance: 11:00 p.m.
All performances at Plaza Club Vancouver.
March 2008
Vancouver Sun Children's Fund awards $5,000 to Kids Up Front for LightBulb Moments! project.
February 2008
CIBC donates $5,000 to Kids Up Front
Kids Up Front is very grateful for the ongoing support of CIBC.
January 2008
Kids Up Front is pleased to announce that in the year 2007, we provided 36,569 life-enhancing experiences to kids and their families at a total value of $ 1, 005, 740.00!
We couldn't have achieved this amazing result without the tremendous support of our donors and sponsors.
Thank you!
Vancouver Foundation donates $20,000 for 2008 to Kids Up Front!
The second and final installment of a $45,000 grant was awarded to Kids Up Front for program expansion in 2008. This grant was made possible by the Alma VanDusen Fund under the stewardship of Vancouver Foundation.
Kids Up Front is very grateful for the ongoing support of the Vancouver Foundation which enables us to continue the important services we provide in our communities.
Kids Up Front Holiday Cards
We would like to thank the following companies for purchasing our unique Holiday Cards in 2007:
A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
Assante Wealth Management
Hybridge Investment Management Inc.
I Designed/Something Blue
Integrated Planning Group
IWASAN Consulting
MF Global Canada Co.
NRI Distribution Inc.
Snack Alliance Inc.
The England Group
Waste Management
Our customized cards enable companies/individuals to make a donation to Kids Up Front on behalf of their clients/colleagues and send children in need to a quality entertainment or educational event that otherwise would not be accessible.
We welcome those interested in purchasing cards for the2008 holiday season to contact us.
Sample card. All cards customized with the Company name and logo.
Every card you purchase sends a child to an event!
$5.00 / card. Minimum order: 50 cards
Support Kids Up Front and purchase some of these custom cards for your clients and friends. Order Form
To hear the Holiday Card radio promo produced by Corus Radio station click here: Corus Holiday Card promo
December 2007
Lower Mainland Steel donates $10,500 to Kids Up Front!
From Left to Right: Neil Gallagher, Vice President and General Manager CTVglobemedia Radio Group Vancouver; Ron McNeil, Director, LMS Lower Mainland Steel; Cindy Graves, Executive Director, Kids Up Front Foundation; Javier Glatt, Linebacker, BC Lions
Photo: Barrett Tyler Jones
As sponsor of the 2007 BC Lions Hard Hat Defender of the Game, Lower Mainland Steel kindly donated $10,500 to Kids Up Front!
Part of Lower Mainland Steel's generous support included 300 BC Lions tickets to Kids Up Front
for the season opener game this past July.
Thank you Lower Mainland Steel, TEAM 1040 and the BC Lions for your combined generous efforts on making this significant contribution to Kids Up Front!
November 2007
Loyal Protestant Associaton donates $10,000 to Kids Up Front!
100% of these funds will go to developing our programs to help enrich the lives of kids across Metro Vancouver.
Thank you Loyal Protestant Association!
September 2007
Kids Up Front honoured with an Award from Vancouver Native Health Society
On September 25, 2007 at the Fourth Annual Connecting
the Dots Workshop,
Kids Up Front received an
award from the Vancouver
Native Health Society
(VNHS)
and Aboriginal
Child & Family Support
Services in recognition for
continued generous support.
Connecting The Dots is an annual conference that provides
information on the
wide variety of culturally appropriate resources,
programs and services for
urban aboriginal families.
Kids Up Front has supported the mission of
VNHS to promote emotional and spiritual growth
in Aboriginal individuals living in the Greater Vancouver
area through ticket
donation.
To date over 2,060 tickets have been donated by Kids Up Front to VNHS members.
excerpt from November 07 KIDS BIZ newsletter
Cooke Family Foundation of Hope donates $10,000 to Kids Up Front!
Kids Up Front received recognition and a significant cash donation at the first annual Silver Lining Gala sponsored by the Cooke Family Foundation of Hope on September 6, 2007. Thanks to the Cooke Foundation, Kids Up Front filled the Matt Cooke suite at several Giants games during the 2006/7 season.
3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament raises close to $30,000 for Kids Up Front!
Many thanks to the Shasta Consulting Group, Optimum Strategies Inc., Dundee Private Investors Inc. and Mackenzie Financial Services for their kind support and efforts in raising this much appreciated funding for Kids Up Front.
Corporate Hole Sponsors
The following companies generously sponsored a hole:
Shasta Consulting Group Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Optimum Strategies Inc. Sunrise Poultry
Global Collective Design Nandos Canada / McCain
Northwest Plastics Integrated Mapping Tech Inc.
DLS Dundee Securities / EFI
Rogers Retail NRI
Thank you!
To view photos from the golf tournament at Furry Creek click here: 2007 Charity Golf Tournament
June 2007
Million Dollar Milestone!!
Kids Up Front Vancouver is very pleased to announce that we have delivered our first 1 million dollars of event opportunities!
Since we held our first event in June 2004 when we sent 112 kids to the Shania Twain concert thanks to the Pacific National Exhibition, until May 31, 2007, Kids Up Front has provided a staggering 43,000 event opportunities for kids across the Lower Mainland at an incredible total value that surpasses one million dollars.
Inform Food Brokerage 8th. Annual Incredible Edible Golf Tournament
Kids Up Front is excited to be named the recipient charity for this year's Incredible Edible golf tournament, a first-class event hosted by Inform Food Brokerage.
The tournament takes place on Monday, June 4 at the Richmond Golf & Country Club.
Kids Up Front will be holding various fundraising events during the day such as "Beat the Pro" and "Kick for Dough". We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help man the events. Please contact the Kids Up Front office if you are interested in helping at the tournament.
2007 Charity Golf Tournament
 
Kids Up Front is very pleased to have been chosen the recipient charity for a third consecutive year for the 2007 Charity Golf Tournament hosted by the Shasta Consulting Group, Optimum Strategies Inc., Dundee Private Investors Inc., and Mackenzie Financial Services.
This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, June 21 at the scenic Furry Creek Golf Course.
Come out and enjoy a great day of golf in support of Kids Up Front!
There is still room for individual golfers as well as foursomes to participate in this significant fundraising event for Kids Up Front. To register as an individual or foursome, please click here:
2007 Charity Golf Tournament Registration
Corporate Hole Sponsorships are also available. For sponsorship details, please click here:
2007 Corporate Hole Sponsorships
Thank you very much for your support of Kids Up Front!
May 2007
Kids Up Front is the official Recipient Charity for the 2007 Memorial Cup!
Help change a child's life. Donate your Memorial Cup hockey tickets to Kids Up Front.
If you have tickets to the games you can't use, please donate them to Kids Up Front.
We'll make sure a ticket never goes to waste and is put into the hands of those who could benefit the most - kids who otherwise would not have the opportunity.
Games at Pacific Coliseum. For more information on the 2007 Mastercard Memorial Cup, click here:
2007 Mastercard Memorial Cup
March 2007
Sun Peaks Shares Winter Adventure
Kids Up Front teamed up with Sun Peaks Shares to send 50 kids and their guardians/parents to Sun Peaks Resort for the weekend of March 30 - April 1. For many of the kids we sent, this was their first ever vacation and their first time sking or snowboarding. The whole Resort got behind this trip and donated two nights hotel accommodation; all meals; activities; and lift passes, rentals and instruction for two days.
This was an incredible opportunity for Kids Up Front and we are very grateful to Sun Peaks Shares for making it possible for kids in Vancouver to experience this world-class destination.
Kids Up Front guests at Sun Peaks Resort. The kids were treated like VIP's and had a weekend of memories that will last a lifetime.
"A Night With the Giants"
On Saturday, March 3, Kids Up Front hosted a donor appreciation reception at the Pacific Coliseum. Roughly 100 guests turned up for the reception and enjoyed complimentary beverages and appetizers, a chance to mingle with local sports celebrities, and tickets to the Vancouver Giants game against the Calgary Hitmen following the reception.
A big thank you to the Pacific National Exhibition for donating all the catering and venue and to the Vancouver Giants for donating hockey tickets for our guests as well as 185 additional tickets to kids and their families to enjoy the game.
Staff of Charter Bus Lines, a frequent donor of Giants tickets to Kids Up Front, and Cindy Graves, Executive Director, at the "Night With the Giants" donor appreciation reception.
Event Committee with Lyle Green, BC Lions football player at reception.
From left to right: Andrea Majorki, Charlotte Phillips, Vicki Dalziel, Lyle Green, Cindy Graves, Darrell Pilgrim, Amber Rowell.
Devon McPherson, a ticket recipient of Kids Up Front and a member of the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada - Greater Vancouver Chapter, spoke about the impact the opportunities donated by Kids Up Front have had on him. Devon is seen here with Tony Caig, goalkeeper, with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Whitecaps have donated 4,540 tickets to Kids Up Front since 2005.
December 2006
Vancouver Foundation Supports Kids Up Front Program Expansion Through Generous Grant
Vancouver, BC - The Youth and Families Advisory Committee of the Vancouver Foundation has approved financial support of program expansion for Kids Up Front Foundation Vancouver for the next two years.
Kids Up Front will receive a $45,000 grant from Vancouver Foundation to assist with program delivery of the “Can’t Use Your Ticket?” and “Kids Count!” initiatives. Both programs are designed to allow underserved children and families to participate in entertaining, educational and recreational activities they might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience, thus contributing to healthy development.
Vancouver Foundation allocates grants to organizations throughout BC that are focused on strengthening communities through nurturing social, cultural, health, environmental and educational needs.
The Foundation aims to strengthen communities through financial aid that fosters long-term growth, as well as through encouragement and support of the work of charitable organizations throughout BC, and through philanthropic leadership and support initiatives.
Contact:
Cindy Graves
Executive Director – Kids Up Front Vancouver
604.266.5437
kidsupfront@shawbiz.ca
B.C. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch awards $12,000.00 to Kids Up Front Foundation (Vancouver)
The B.C. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch has generously awarded Kids Up Front Foundation in Vancouver $12,000.00 to assist with program delivery. This marks the second year in a row that the Branch has awarded funds to Kids Up Front ($11,000.00 was awarded in 2006).
Kids Up Front is very grateful for the support of the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch as the funds will help enhance the quality of life for thousands of kids across the Lower Mainland.
October 2006
2006 Certificate of Exceptional Achievement – Community Group
MS Society of Canada, BC Division
Kids Up Front is pleased to announce we are the recipients of the 2006 Certificate of Exceptional Achievement - Community Group awarded by the MS Society of Canada, BC Division.
According to the MS Society, Certificates of Exceptional Achievement:
“…Recognize the outstanding effort and support in the fight against MS. Outstanding effort and support is defined as rising to meet the challenge presented by an unusual circumstance and/or displaying a measure of commitment, initiative, energy and dedication above and beyond that which would normally be expected.”
Kids Up Front is honoured to be awarded this prestigious acknowledgement from the MS Society of Canada.
Christine Fleeton, Kids Up Front Program Coordinator, (forefront) is presented with the framed Certificate of Achievement from Janet Palm, President, MS Society of Canada, BC Division.
September 2006
3rd Annual Kids Up Front Playland Event
On Saturday, September 16, Kids Up Front sent 500 kids and their families to a fun-filled day at Playland thanks to the generous sponsorship of the PNE. This marks the third year the PNE has supported Kids Up Front by donating a bulk of tickets to Playland and hosting a bar-b-que lunch exclusively for the kids.
Playland continues to be one of the most popular excursions amongst the Kids Up Front ticket recipients. The children and families thoroughly enjoyed their day, which would not have been possible without the contribution of the PNE.
Thanks PNE!
Kids Up Front guests at recent Playland event hosted by PNE & Kids Up Front.
August 2006
BMO / Kids Up Front Vancouver Aquarium Event
BMO staff volunteers with Kids Up Front staff at the BMO/Kids Up Front
Vancouver Aquarium event.
General Press Release
Kids visit Vancouver Aquarium for first time thanks to BMO & Kids Up Front
August 25, 2006, (Vancouver BC) – Nearly 100 kids in need had the opportunity to experience the Vancouver Aquarium yesterday thanks to BMO Financial Group and Kids Up Front. For many kids across the Lower Mainland, this was their first visit to the popular local attraction.
Laurie Grant, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, BMO Financial Group, said she was surprised to find out that even some of the older children and teenagers had not previously been to the Vancouver Aquarium, an experience that others in our communities might take for granted. With Kids Up Front’s help, BMO is able to offer these kids an opportunity to experience a world-class attraction that is right in their own backyard, but has until now been inaccessible to them,” Ms. Grant added.
This is the first time BMO has partnered with Kids Up Front to send kids to an event and the first time Kids Up Front has been able to send kids to the Vancouver Aquarium. According to Cindy Graves, Executive Director, Kids Up Front Foundation (Vancouver) it is a “win-win for everyone. “
Kids Up Front is a charity dedicated to providing entertainment and educational opportunities to children and families in need by distributing unused event tickets and by creating special events. Tickets are donated to Kids Up Front by event organizations, corporations and individuals and recycled into the hands of those who need them the most - the kids and families of their 82 partner agencies.
According to Graves, “With BMO’s financial support, we were able to open doors for these kids that otherwise would remain closed. Opportunities like the Vancouver Aquarium event, help foster self-confidence and create a sense of belonging to our community that might have been missing.”
Several BMO employees jumped at the chance to volunteer at this special event and helped register the guests as they arrived and presented each child with a token gift – a colourful LED fish on a string. The fish were a big hit and as Christine Wheeler, customer service representative with Bank of Montreal said, “It was humbling to see how such a little gesture could mean so much.”
Kids Up Front has made it possible for kids to experience sporting and recreational events, live theatre and concerts, and local and cultural events. The kids they serve face many challenges such as poverty; physical, emotional and mental difficulties; new immigrant and minority status; terminal and chronic illness; and youth in crisis. Since the Foundation opened its doors in Vancouver in June 2004, it has distributed more than 23,000 tickets at a value greater than $560,000.
For more information on Kids Up Front, contact Cindy Graves at 604 266 KIDS (5437) or visit www.kidsupfront.com.
July 2006
Nando’s Chicken Chow Down for Children 
On July 22, 2006 the smell of delicious flame-grilled chicken enveloped Playland at the PNE for the Nando’s Chicken Chow Down for Children. Eleven contestants from across the Lower Mainland gobbled up heaps of Nando’s chicken while raising money for Kids Up Front.
Participants were judged in various categories ranging from Most Chicken Eaten to Messiest Eater to Most Entertaining. The grand prize was a year’s worth of delicious flame-grilled Nando’s chicken.
Walking away with the grand prize was Kristian Frantzen of Richmond (eating for Steveston) who ate 1 kilo of chicken!
Children benefiting from Kids Up Front were on site acting as Kids Cheat Police – ensuring all contestants followed the rules of the competition.
Kids Up Front was a big winner too - Nando's raised over $1100.00 for Kids Up Front through the sale of chicken dinners at Playland.
Thank you Nando's!!
Kids Up Front "Cheat Police"
Contestants chowing down Nando's chicken
"Cheat Police" and staff of Nando's
June 2006
2nd Annual Kids Up Front Charity Golf Tournament
From left to right: Dean Ratcliffe, Shasta Consulting Group; Chuck Grossholz, Optimum Strategies; Donna Scramstad, Shasta Consulting Group; Sally Ratcliffe, Shasta Consulting Group; Lydia Bristow, Mackenzie Financial Corp.
Kids Up Front remains extremely grateful to the generosity and hard work of the Shasta Consulting Group and Optimum Strategies for making the 2006 Charity Golf Tournament a big success!
Kids Up Front would also like to give special acknowledgement to Mackenzie Financial Corporation for donating $5,000.00 to the Charity Golf Tournament again this year.
A big thank you to the following companies for sponsoring a hole at the 2nd Annual Kids Up Front Charity Golf Tournament:
Allwest Insurance
BDO Dunwoody LLP
CB Richard Ellis
Canadian Tire
DLS
EFI Dundee Private Investors Inc.
Empire Marketing Corp.
Harper Grey LLP
Mackenzie Financial Corporation
Nando’s Canada
Northwest Plastics
Optimum Strategies
Seacor Environmental Inc.
Shasta Consulting Group
Sunrise Poultry
Western Printers Your support is much appreciated!!
The Canadian Tire Team
The BDO Dunwoody Team and friends
Parkgate Community Service Award given to Kids Up Front
Kids Up Front is the proud recipient of a Community Service Award from Parkgate Community Centre in North Vancouver, one of our Partner Agencies. This is Kids Up Front’s first award in Vancouver!
At Parkgate’s Annual General Meeting/Community Service Awards/Volunteer Recognition event on June 1, 2006, Kids Up Front received a plaque which was presented with the following comments:
“It is thanks to the Kids Up Front Foundation that families with young children and youth at Parkgate have been able to attend quality entertainment and educational events such as the Vancouver Canuck games, the Vancouver Giants games, Playland, and Storyeum in Gastown. We would like to thank the Kids Up Front Foundation for their generosity with this award.”
From left to right: Jamie Roberts, Director (Youth) Parkgate Community Centre, Cindy Graves, Executive Director, Kids Up Front Foundation (Vancouver), Caitlin Wilson, Director (Youth) Parkgate Community Centre.
Thank you Parkgate!
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