Help a youth Dare to Dream
The Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO) operates out of the east end of the city, but reaches all over, helping children in the care of the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) achieve their goals and dreams through bursaries and other funding. That funding is raised through donations and excellent events hosted by the Foundation that allow community members to meet, network, and most importantly, have fun for a great cause.
That cause is embodied by the Foundation’s Dare to Dream Bursary Program which helps young adults in the care of CASO attend post-secondary institutions and—by extension—follow their dreams. In 2014, CAFO helped 39 young adults achieve their dream of a post-secondary education by dispersing over $117,000 in bursaries. This year is the 20th year of the Dare to Dream Bursary Program. Over the past two decades the Foundation will have directly helped over 700 young adults with over $2M in bursary funding. To celebrate this milestone, the Foundation will be helping 50 to 60 deserving young adults achieve their goal of reaching their full potential through a post-secondary education. This includes bursaries for college, university, and private-sector vocational training facilities.
While the Foundation has some very generous donors that contribute significantly to their fundraising efforts, they also host some great events that offer creative ways to get out with friends and meet people in Ottawa, all while supporting a wonderful cause. Here are a couple of big events coming up in the next couple of months that offer something for everyone:
The 25th Annual BDC Charity Golf Tournament is held at the Canadian Golf & Country Club, a reputable golf course just outside Ottawa. Taking place on September 16th, this event takes golf to the next level with prizes, food, networking, and the course itself is tough to beat. There are still a few foursomes left for those who are interested, as well as some select sponsorship opportunities to help showcase your participation in the event. For more information, or to register, please visit www.cafott.ca and check out the details!
The Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa’s World Trivia Night is the largest live trivia event in the world and it takes place right here in Ottawa! Held at the EY Centre near the airport and taking place on Friday, November 20, 2015, World Trivia Night sees teams of 10 compete across a wide range of trivia categories, all while raising money for a great cause. This is a fantastic event for friends, colleagues, or general trivia enthusiasts who like a fun night out and some friendly competition. Become a Champion team by raising $1,000 for the Foundation and receive free event entry, a meal platter, prizes, the opportunity to participate in the event launch, and last but not least, the chance to compete for $10,000 in cash prizes!
All the events run by the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa support the Dare to Dream Bursary Program which has a huge impact on the young adults in the care of the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa. Here are just a few notes from bursary recipients that demonstrate the extent of the impact that the Dare to Dream Bursary Program can have on the lives of those who have received it.
“I did want you to know that you have done so much to help me improve my life. The bursaries that you have provided me with have done much more than just relieve me of the stresses of being in debt, but also provided me with hope that people in the world believe in my resiliency and the idea that children in care can succeed just as well as those who are not in care.”
“Thanking you is not enough! It’s too impersonal and emotionless. Yet how else do you thank someone for giving them a chance? All I can say is that one day I will give back what has been giving to me. THANK YOU so very much!”
“Time is moving quickly, and when each school year starts, I continue to see that an incredible amount of money has been put towards by tuition by people whom I have never met, which makes me feel incredibly grateful. While I was growing up, there were not a lot of people that I knew who believed in me, and the fact that someone I’ve never met has so much faith in me to succeed, makes me believe that despite the negativity in this world, there are people like yourself, who are generous beyond belief.”
These letters truly reflect the impact the bursary has on its recipients, so please visit www.cafott.ca to see how you can help!