This year is a very special one for the Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament as the event reaches its 10th milestone. Local businessman and Rotarian John Smale, who is Chairing the Tournament this year, encourages everyone to help make this the most memorable year yet by participating in the day’s activities. “Rotary is proud of its association with the Quinte Children’s Foundation and of the important educational bursaries this golf tournament has helped to support over the years. We will continue to raise awareness for the needs of vulnerable children within our community and we thank everyone who has supported this cause over the past decade”, he commented.
The main Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament takes place on Friday, July 20th at two of Quinte’s premiere golf courses – Black Bear Ridge and Trillium Wood, however once again this year, 30 kids in the care of Highland Shores Children’s Aid will get a chance to test their golfing skills in a nine hole tournament of their own thanks to the support of the Bayview Golfing Centre and several generous sponsors. At the end of the golf day, the kids will also enjoy a wrap up dinner and entertainment at Rotary’s Party in the Square taking place in downtown Belleville.
“July 20th will truly be a special day, as golfers pull out their clubs to raise funds for kids in our community through the Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament. Over the years, Belleville Rotary Club has donated over $76,000 to the Quinte Children’s Foundation for our Reach for Success bursary program. This program provides bursaries to youth in care to continue their post secondary education and we are so proud and appreciative of our continued relationship with the Belleville Rotary Club”, commented Connie Reid, Executive Director of the Foundation.
This year, financial supporters of the kids’ tournament include Bayfield Treatment Centres in Consecon and Quinte Children’s Homes in Belleville. Each of these organizations have donated $1000 which makes it possible for the group of kids to golf.
As in previous years, ten percent of the funds raised at this year’s Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament will be donated to the Quinte Children’s Foundation in support of their Reach for Success Youth Bursary program, with the balance going to a number of child-related programs in our community. This
past May, thirty youth, who plan to attend College or University in September, were awarded over $50,000 in Reach for Success Bursaries in order to assist them with their post secondary education.
Over the past nine years, the Rotary Loves Kids Golf Tournament has raised $760,000 which has been contributed to the care of Quinte area children in many ways:
- Easter Seals Camp, helping kids with physical disabilities succeed
- Quinte Children's Foundation, whose vision is to improve the quality of life for local children
- The Belleville General Hospital to help fund special diagnostic equipment for children
