Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field Gets Another Boost In Support

loukastheo • January 28, 2012

Kiwanis Club of East York makes financial contribution

BY DANIELLE MILLEY | EAST YORK MIRROR JAN 28, 2012

Kiwanis Club of East York current past-president George Rowell, centre, presents Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field committee co-chairs Lisa Grogran-Green, left, and Nick Stefanoff with a cheque recently in support of the project being built at Valley Park Middle School. - Photo/COURTESY

The Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field received another boost of support last week.

The Kiwanis Club of East York (KCEY) came out as an early supporter of the project at Valley Park Middle School in Thorncliffe Park, but last week it backed up that endorsement with a financial contribution.

"It's fantastic. It was really personally touching that the members would dip into their pockets like that," said Lisa Grogan-Green, co-chairperson of the project committee.

At the Jan. 17 meeting, KCEY's current past president, George Rowell presented Grogan-Green and Nick Stefanoff, fellow co-chairperson and principal of the school, with a cheque for $12,880.

That amount consisted of individual member contributions together with a matching donation from past president Mary Ellen Trimble. The co-chairs were also presented with a second cheque from the club itself for $4,000.

While the money will help the project reach its fundraising goal of $1.7 million (of which it has raised $1 million), it's the club's belief in the project that is most valuable to the committee.

"What they've done for us is huge, not only have they come forward with a financial contribution, but they came out really early as a supporter and that helped with other donors," Grogan-Green said.

The club's current president, Ross Hillis, said while the club already had a presence in the Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park neighbourhoods through the key club at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, they wanted to have a greater presence in those communities.

Don Valley West Councillor John Parker told Hillis about the Go Green project and he thought it was a good fit for the club.

"We latched onto the Go Green project as something special," Hillis said.

The project would transform the school yard from the small play place it is today with a concrete basketball court, 11 portables, and a small field used for soccer and other sports, to an oasis with a butterfly meadow, an outdoor amphitheatre, herb and vegetable garden, interpretive marsh, and facilities to play cricket, soccer, baseball and basketball.

The KCEY is also planning a fund raiser in the spring where it would go into a local shopping centre and use a kilometre of double sided sticky tape to collect donations of loonies and toonies. When the Kiwanis Club of Barbados did the fund raiser it raised more than $50,000.

The Go Green committee also has hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding grant applications it's waiting to hear back about and it's competing to receive a grant from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Team Up Foundation Fund. The new fund provides grants totalling $200,000 to Ontario charities for sports and recreation programming or facilities. The grant will be decided on by voting at http://mlseteamupfoundation.org/giving//team-up-foundation-fund/

Voting opens Monday, Jan. 30 and runs until Feb. 20 to determine the top 20; then a committee will determine the top 10, which will be revealed for another round of public voting in March to determine the four recipients.

GGYC Summer 2024 Closing Ceremony Celebrates a Season of Success

By Kenzie Kash • August 27, 2024

On the final day of summer camp, GGYC threw a fantastic Summer 2024 Closing Ceremony to celebrate the amazing achievements and fun times of the past few months. The day was filled with a mix of reflection, entertainment, and togetherness. The celebration kicked off as campers arrived at GGYC and were greeted by the first slideshow video, which showcased some of the summer's most memorable moments. Michael Ma, Chief Operating Officer & Director Of Community Wellness, gave an inspiring speech, setting a positive tone for the day. He described GGYC as, "A place where you feel safe, have fun, and make new friendships or strengthen friendships you already have." Next up was Talha Malik, Executive Director, who shared his own heartfelt reflections on the summer. Afterward, campers enjoyed a second slideshow video, showcasing more of the summer's fun activities and shared successes, bringing laughter and joy to the event. The event then moved outdoors where campers and staff gathered for a barbecue, with an ice cream truck adding a sweet touch. There were also bouncy castles, inflatable slides, carnival games and face painting, creating a lively atmosphere where everyone could unwind and have fun after a busy summer. As the day continued, several staff members shared their summer experiences. Shahnaaz Eqbal summed up her time as a counselor with three words, "Amazing, surprising, loving," perfectly capturing the GGYC's spirit. Mohammed Deshmukh from Eco Arts reflected, "This is a full circle moment for me. On the Go Green website, there's a photo of me as a camper at the African Lion Safari. That's one of my biggest takeaways from being here this summer. The kids here may not notice it yet, but they're going to grow with Go Green." Zain, a Leader in Training (LIT), added, "This summer has been a huge success, not just for myself but for Go Green as a whole. I think we had an amazing summer camp this year." The event wrapped up with a cake-cutting ceremony, providing a final shared moment that symbolized the camp's efforts to create lasting memories and offer a fitting end to the season. The GGYC Summer 2024 Closing Ceremony was a joyful and successful event, marking the end of a summer full of growth, friendship, and unforgettable experiences that perfectly reflected the core values and mission of GGYC.