Mitchell (age 10) is one of the over 270 children who had such an opportunity to go to camp this year. This is the impact on one child’s life….

When I found out I was going to camp, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go.  When I ws at camp I was happy though because I met Braden, my counsellor, he became my friend.  We played the theme game together

I also had fun when we played in the water.  My friend John and I found clay and liked to play in it.  When I left camp I was sad because I was going to miss Brayden.  Before I left, he gave me a necklace.  I really like it, but it makes me miss  him more.

Thank you very much to the people who helped me to go to camp.  I will remember all the fun I had.  If I hadn’t gone to camp I woudl be sitting at home – I am happy I got to go to camp.

“We are thankful for this generous and most unexpected gift from Labatt’s! It’s a donation we did not solicit or anticipate; truly, it was single-handedly arranged through a long-time friend and supporter of our ministry,” says Todd Bender, City Kidz Founder and Executive Director.

City Kidz Inspires Hope, Instills Resiliency and Impacts the futures of Hamilton’s children each and every week, reaching out to over 2,300 children through City Kidz Saturdays and Home Visits.

Every Saturday, the City Kidz fleet of Big Red Buses pick up over 1,000 kids, provide safe door to door transportation, and bring them to the City Kidz Playhouse Theatre, where they experience a life changing high impact, high energy program filled with games, songs, food, prizes and important life lessons.

Every week, each and every one of their 2,315 children receive a personal home visit from a dedicated volunteer or staff, building relationships, building trust, and impacting futures.

This led after a few years to running my first 10k, which was the very first Terry Fox Run.  After several years of this, I moved up to longer distances, eventually running a 50 miler in 1986.  I became hooked on these longer distances, because, unlike the shorter distances, one truly is only running against one’s self.

I continued to compete in what are called ultra marathon events until 2000, usually finishing last or next to last, then finally realized that since I was only running against myself, I didn’t need to spend all that time and money running with other people.  I also discovered journey running around that time – running ultra marathon distances for two or more days.

The other thing I discovered was that while most other runners seemed to be running against others for themselves, what turned me on was running for others.  Hence my 11 years (plus 2 years raising money for Terry Fox) doing charity runs.  In the first ten years I have raised over $25k for the Canadian Cancer Society, and $25k for various Christian organizations.

I got involved in raising money for City Kidz in 2009, through the house church that I attend, and having subsequently learned much more about it since then, decided to make it my only Christian charity for 2010.

I live and work in downtown Hamilton, and frankly I cannot see a greater or more needed ministry than City Kidz.  It is the dream of every church in the lower city to attract children, and lo and behold, City Kidz is showing the way!

I know that it must seem like a lot of hard work to those involved in the work at City Kidz on a day to day basis, but the rest of us see so clearly the hand of God involved.  May He continue to pour his richest blessings upon all of you.

If people are interested in donating through my run, they can visit my website at www.edsfundraiser.com.   Surely you know that many runners take part in a race, but only one of them wins the prize.  Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize.  Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. That is why I run straight for the finish line; that is why I am like a boxer who does not waste his punches.  I harden my body with blows and bring it under complete control, to keep myself from being disqualified after having called others to the contest. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (Good News)

Ed Alexander

Tania Bardati gladly gives up a few Starbucks lattes a week to sponsor a child in Hamilton’s City Kidz program.

The Waterdown mother says it’s worth it because the organization gives inner-city children some hope and confidence.

“The focus is on the child rather than the poverty aspect. I think it’s a really good use of funds. With a lot of (other) charities, you don’t see where your money goes.”

Sponsorships of $27.50 or $35 a month help fund a free 75-minute Saturday activities program that includes free transportation and food.

Bardati, an educational assistant, says she was “blown away” by City Kidz during a tour in June. She loved the dedication and enthusiasm shown to each child.

“We all help Haiti (and other areas) … but this is in our own back yard.” Poor countries still need help, she added, but “to see it in our back yard, this, to me, is a priority.”

City Kidz is currently seeking sponsors for another 225 children by Friday and another 40 by the end of August. It has 825 children sponsored so far, by individuals, churches and businesses.

Founded by Todd Bender, a minister with the Gospel Crusade of Canada, City Kidz ministers to children aged three to 15 from disadvantaged homes with short weekly in-home visits and Saturday activity sessions.

Volunteers currently visit 2,315 children a week for up to 10 minutes each, according to City Kidz director of development Susan Lamont.

“We could have a chat or play … sometimes we have a tea.”

These volunteers on “the front lines” can also connect parents with help agencies, she said.

About 1,000 children attend one of the three Saturday sessions, held in an ex-movie theatre on Sherman Avenue North. They sing, play games, pray and learn good morals and values, Lamont said.

Although City Kidz fundraises throughout the year to finance its $1.2-million yearly budget, the monthly child sponsorship “is our sustainable, reliable income we depend on,” she said.

Sponsors are not teamed with an individual child but their monthly donations cover the costs for a child to attend City Kidz.

cfragomeni@thespec.com

905-526-3392

E.J. Chuks rears back and with a mighty swing of the club sends the golf ball whizzing across the practice range at Oak Gables Golf Club.

“I like golf because you get to hit the ball as hard as you can,” says the 11-year-old Hamilton resident who is being introduced to the sport for the first time this week as part of a joint initiative by Oak Gables, City Kidz and the Courneya Group.

Ten inner-city kids aged 10 and 11 where chosen from the City Kidz program to take part in the week-long Ross Golf Academy Camp.

It was a new experience for Chuks, who has played soccer, basketball, tennis and even ping pong but has never had the opportunity to chase a little white ball around a golf course.

“I like playing golf but not when it gets this hot,” he noted yesterday as the kids wilted in the oppressive heat.

Stephen Ross, who operates Oak Gables, said they were looking for the right opportunity to get City Kidz involved in a golf program and it all came together when the Courneya Group, an Ancaster based financial services company, offered to get involved.

“We want to give an introduction to golf to kids who might not otherwise get that chance,” said Mark Courneya, a ski racing coach whose father Paul was heavily involved in the Canadian Open in 2003 and 2006 when it was played at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

“We both wanted to give something back to the community and you couldn’t find a better place to do it than here and with the Ross family.”

Ross said the players in the program, most of whom have never swung a club before, will learn all aspects of the game through Golf Canada’s Future Links program including grip, stance and swing. Besides hitting balls and putting, they also get the opportunity to go out and play a few holes each day.

Mark Courneya said they’ve had golf clubs donated to them for the young players to use.

They’re hoping to expand the program in the future to possibly include offering some of the City Kidz players the opportunity to some money off the sport by working in the Hamilton G&CC’s caddy program.

Ross said they will analyze how things went at the end of the week.

He’s hopeful that one or more of the players will have shown enough interest and ability in the game to want to continue through the summer.

Click here for the Article in The Spec (includes photo)

City Kidz Summer 2 Remember is sponsored by Canadian Tire; help us providing over 250 day and over night camp opportunities to children in Hamilton.

Together the class raised over $400 which will go towards gifts, stockings and the City Kidz Gift of Christmas Campaign for 2010! Way to go guys!