MEDIA RELEASES
January 22, 2007
Rona After School Program Gives More Kids an Opportunity to Skate
KidSport Manitoba, RONA, elementary schools in Winnipeg and three inner-city community centers are teaming up again this year to allow more children to have an opportunity to hit the ice through the RONA After School Skate program.
This week (January 22nd to 29th) students from 19 Winnipeg area schools are collecting skates and helmets at their school which will be donated by KidSport to Ralph Brown, Sinclair Park and Weston Community Centres for their after school skating programs. Last year with the participation of 13 schools, KidSport was able to donate 340 pairs of skates and 75 helmets to Winnipeg community centres.
“It is a real pleasure to partner again with RONA, and help even more disadvantaged kids participate in sport. Programs like this promote active and healthier lifestyles that will hopefully stay with them throughout their lives and pay off enormously down the road,” said Jeff Palamar, KidSport Manitoba Chair. “It is very rewarding to have companies like RONA, who have seen the benefits, continue their commitment, as KidSport needs this type of help from the corporate community to help us all win over the long term.”
The RONA After School Skate program allows children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to try skating. The program also encourages the participating students, at an early age, to help out in the community by giving back to those in need. A few of the participating schools are using the program as an educational tool for their leadership classes, while others have executed the program to teach students how to empathize. Involvement in sport can teach children the value of leadership, planning, practice, hard work, honesty, sacrifice, dedication, positive thinking, and self-confidence.
“RONA was very pleased with the success of last year’s program, and today we are very happy to see an increase in school participation,” said Darin Lemieux, Manager, Winnipeg South RONA Home and Garden. “RONA is proud to help develop a program that will allow underprivileged youth take up sport and aspire to a better quality of life.”
The school that is able to donate the most equipment (per capita) will be awarded a $2,500 gift certificate courtesy of RONA and a skating party at the MTS Centre. In addition each participating school will also be receiving two tickets to the 2007 Women’s World Hockey Championships in April.
Schools participating in this year’s program include:
Westview
Robert Andrews
Dr. FWL Hamilton
Bird’s Hill School
Donwood
Maple Leaf School
Ecole Leila North
Ecole Stanley Knowles School
Belmont
Ecole Seven Oaks
Forest Park School
RF Morrison
Wolseley
Ecole Bannatyne School
Ecole Riverview
Beaverlodge
Ecole Viscount Alexander
Oakenwald School
Chancellor School
KidSport is a children’s charity administered by Sport Manitoba that provides registration fees and sports equipment for families of children who cannot afford their participation in sport.
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Contact:
Crystal Peiris
KidSport Manitoba
Telephone: 926-8351
Email
