Fundraising
In addition to celebrating the memory of Matthew, this tournament operates in support of a number of organizations that provide access to sports for kids who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. In 2016 - we chose to support a new cause: Their Opportunity - which operates on a local level and is involved with some of Matthew's former sports teams. We raised $3500 for Their Opportunity in 2017, bringing our total contribution to Their Opportunity to $7500! Past tournaments (2013-2015) raised a total of $9885 in support of Right To Play. The tournament also funds bursaries awarded to a student at each of Matt's previous schools: R.H. King Academy in Toronto, ON ($200) and St. Mary's University in Halifax, NS ($500).
Their Opportunity is an organization that exists to provide low-income families with the means to enrol their children in local sports programs. Their hope is that by alleviating the financial costs of enrolment fees, children can develop the confidence, social skills, and healthy lifestyle attainable through sports. Their Opportunity is a registered charity that is "reaching kids before they need to be rescued". Their goal is to engage children as community ambassadors for hope, generosity, and change. Their Opportunity is distinguished by their mandate for children receiving support to "pay it forward" through Their Opportunity's give-back program. Children have 3 months to complete some type of community service as a way of showing their appreciation versus a sense of entitlement. Their Opportunity also works to ensure that funds raised are utilized to the benefit of children in the area where the funding was raised - and as such will be supporting some of Matthew's former sports teams such as the Scarborough Sabres Hockey team. They also ensure that donations are handled such that 90% of any money received goes toward programming.
Organization website: http://www.theiropportunity.com Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world, as well as on home soil, working with groups such as Canadian First Nations. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, Right To Play builds local capacity by training community leaders as Coaches to deliver its programs in 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Founded in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The national offices raise funds, build awareness for Right To Play programs and advocate for Sport for Development. Organization website: http://www.righttoplay.ca All funds raised by the tournament in 2017, beyond those required to fund the bursaries, are donated to Their Opportunity. |