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HomeNewsOKP raises over $135,000 thanks to community

OKP raises over $135,000 thanks to community

One Kids Place (OKP) says their annual Golf For Kids fundraiser surpassed all expectations.

Nearly $140,000 was raised at the event, which was held at the North Bay Golf and Country Club on Monday.

Officials say all proceeds from the annual tournament support equipment and resource purchases for local children and families.

Katharine Strang, Development & Community Relations Department at One Kids Place, says every year they bring and feature a piece of equipment, to show patrons what they’re fundraising for.

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“This year, the piece of equipment was an eye gaze unit. It’s a piece that helps children that are non-verbal speak to their parents,” she says. “It enables them to communicate, share thoughts, feelings and needs and comes at a $24,000 price tag.”

Strang says she isn’t sure what was in the water, but they received overwhelming support.

“It was unbelievable. We were flabbergasted, dumbfounded. We brought it out, and Maureen Brazeau from Rebuilt Resources started it all off. She’s a huge advocate for our children and our community. She stood up and reminded everyone in the room the wonderful things that are done here by our therapists. […] She led the charge with a $6,000 pledge. Within a minute, four other people put their hands up with $6,000.”

And just like that, the organization had enough money for the eye gaze Unit.

But more hands kept going up. Pledging $6,000 at a time.

“It was unbelievable the hands that went up. The auction itself raised just over $100,000 for us. It’s an enormous amount of money for us and for this program we run. We are so, so grateful,” she says.

Over $135K was raised at the event. It will enable the organization to purchase 3 of the eye gaze units, along with two Adaptive Trikes to be added to their loan equipment.

“This has always been a community event for us. Annually, when we run this event, I have the support of 50 different donors in one day. Whether participating, sponsoring, or being there and volunteering their time, we have all of these wonderful people. I take great pride that this is a community event and raises money for our community children. I think the feeling of love in that room last night, and the feeling of support for our children was an unbelievable positive with all of the negatives we’ve had in the last couple of years,” finished Strang.

The organization provides community-based rehabilitation, specialized clinic services and related support services for children and youth in the Districts of Muskoka, Nipissing and Parry Sound.

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