Birdies For Kids program benefits youth charities
Raising $ 7,500 might not seem like a huge deal for many charities, but for the Devon Youth Society, it would pay for a whole year’s worth of programming.
The organization is one of about 90 charities for children and youth throughout Alberta that will be helped by the new Birdies For Kids program, presented by AltaLink, as part of the Aug. 5- 9 Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
Charlene Bishop, president of the society that runs the Local Youth Experience program for youth 11- 17, says more than 15 per cent of the town’s young people have taken part in activities such as dance, drama, glee club, athletics, cooking, a youth cafe, games and Friday evening Big Events.
Launched in April 2013, the initiative gives younger residents more to do in Devon, a town of 6,000 people located about 40 kilometres southwest of Edmonton. The municipality pays for staff members but volunteers are also crucial. The opportunity to raise money through the Shaw Charity Classic Champions Tour golf event is “a big deal,” says Bishop, a mother of five.
“We’re new, and without this money, we’d literally not be able to run. It will pay for office supplies, food for the events, decorations.”
Up to this point, the organization hasn’t done big fundraisers, she says. The largest raised $ 500 by providing desserts at a drama event.
Birdies For Kids is based on a program introduced on the PGA Tour in 1971. It offers corporations and individuals the opportunity to make single or per- birdie donations directed to the children’s charity of their choice. The per- birdie donation counts every time a player at the tournament scores one- underpar on a hole.
Participating charities receive 100 per cent of every donation collected on their behalf, with no fees. A tiered matching program can add to the totals. Donations can be made until end- of- day on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015.
In 2013, the first year of the Shaw Charity Classic, golfers racked up 1,000 birdies. About 900 birdies are expected this year.
Companies and individuals can make donations to Birdies for Kids by visiting the Shaw Charity Classic website, shawcharityclassic.com, where the full list of participating charities is available. All donations qualify for a charitable tax receipt.