Praise for cops and kids

It was a sold-out event for the Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation’s 11th annual Celebrity Sports Mixer charity fundraiser at the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto. Hundreds gathered for the popular event to mix and mingle with athletes, broadcasters and prominent names from the business community.

The evening’s theme “Our Cops are Tops” recognized Toronto Police Service and Chief Bill Blair for his many years of support. A special presentation to Mr. Blair by the Foundation and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment took place naming him “Honorary Chair” of the Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation and its Kids, Cops & Computers program.

“In 1998, when our Program was ostensibly an idea, Bill Blair demonstrated his vision and leadership by assisting in shaping and endorsing our then-nascent Kids, Cops & Computers program,” said G. Scott Paterson, chairman of Merry Go Round. “As he said then and has repeated many times since, our program contributed to his preventative policing philosophy.”

Guests mingled with hockey stars including Dion Phaneuf, Joffrey Lupul, Trevor Smith and Wendel Clark, along with other bright lights such as Bruce Croxon, Amanda Lang, Melissa Grelo, Peter C. Newman, Marcel Dionne and Brendan Shanahan.

Since 1998 Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation’s Kids, Cops & Computers program has worked in partnership with both the Toronto District and Catholic School Boards as well as with Toronto Police Service to uniquely leverage the power of technology for social good and teach kids safe and effective ways of being connected online.

To date more than 2,800 kids (and their families) from 76 schools in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas have participated in and benefited from the Kids, Cops & Computers program.

All proceeds raised, more than $200,000, went towards Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation’s Kids, Cops & Computers program. The program runs from Grade 7 through high school, providing kids with new laptops, Internet connections and Toronto Police officer mentorship.

Petra Swayze of Kayla Marques and James Swayze, president, CEO and director of Symbility Solutions.

Left, G. Scott Paterson, chairman of Merry Go Round Children’s Foundation; and Dion Phaneuf, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

From left, Kate McKenna, producer and host; Corrie Moore; Sportsnet anchor Laura Diakun and Renee Rouse.

Melissa Grelo, host of The Social, and Ryan Gragg.

Toronto’s Chief Bill Blair and Peter C. Newman.

From left, Paul Pathak, Pooja Handa, Steve Gindi and Tim Alavathil.

From left, Trevor Smith and Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs, next to team president Brendan Shanahan.