Five Counties Returns Second Year of Backyard Summer Social Fundraiser To Support Kids Therapy

The second year of Five Counties Children’s Centre’s (FCCC) Backyard Summer Social fundraiser returns on June 24 announced on Tuesday.

$45,000 was raised in last year’s inaugural event. Photo courtesy of FCCC.

The event is in FCCC’s outdoor backyard space that was created almost four years ago. The space is primarily used for outdoor treatment and therapy for kids and clients.

The inaugural raised more than $45,000 last year and went towards critical, high-demand treatment services for kids at FCCC.

All money raised goes towards FCCC’s Building Abilities For Life Campaign. It helps high-demand services such as speech therapy and occupational therapy in an effort to reduce long waiting times for these critical services.

“We know kids do better when they have the immediate support they need to learn to communicate, be heard, move independently and carry out everyday activities that many of us take for granted,” said Lyn Giles, FCCC director of fund development. “That’s why we invite everyone to come out to our Backyard Summer Social to have fun and show their support for Five Counties children and their families.”

This year’s event features music, food, entertainment, fun activities and doubles as a high-end gala experience for adults with a summer twist.

“Our Backyard Summer Social is an adults-only gala event that celebrates the arrival of summer, lets you be like a kid again and allows you to swap out the tux, gown and heels for T-shirt, shorts and sandals all the while supporting a great cause,” said Giles. “Our initial Backyard Summer Social was a smashing success, and we plan to make it even bigger, bolder and better in 2023.”

Tickets are available online, via email (development@fivecounties.on.ca) or by calling or calling 1-888-779-9916, ext. 300 and are $125 per person.

A charitable tax receipt, all food, one drink ticket, live music, access to all activities and door prizes ballots are included in the admission.

Features of the Backyard Summer Social include:

• Fantastic food/fare catered by La Mesita and SKH Catering

• Sweet treats from Central Smith and Flossophy

• Drinks from Rolling Grape and Brock Street Brewery

• Musical performances by Irish Millie and the Boogie Time Ramblers

• Live auction and door prizes

• Axe throwing, lacrosse shootout, inflatable jousting, old-fashioned picnic games and more

• Behind-the-scenes tour of Five Counties’ Peterborough location

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Local Business Owner Raffling Custom Tufted Rug In Support of Youth Emergency Shelter

Local business owner Clara Paquette is raffling a custom tufted rug from her business Shag Rags with all proceeds going to support the Youth Emergency Shelter (YES).

photo courtesy of clara paquette.

Paquette is in her second year of the Child and Youth Care program at Fleming College. She started Shag Rags a little under a year ago as a way to make some money while in school full-time.

Those interested can find Paquette’s rugs at First Friday Art Crawls and the Milk and Tea boba shop downtown Peterborough.

“As someone who is looking to be a child and youth worker myself, I absolutely love and adore what (YES) does, but they are in some desperate need of support and donations,” said Paquette. “When I saw the YES Shelter Instagram page share that they needed funding for some serious issues, my heart broke knowing how difficult it must be for them right now. But seeing how I am doing my placement at a local school full time, along with school assignments and running my own business I felt like I didn’t have anything to give, money or time.”

Photos courtesy of Clara Paquette.

This is when, Paquette says, she had the idea to do the rug raffle.

For the giveaway, Shag Rags is selling tickets at $5 each for a raffle to win a free, 2x2 custom tufted rug.

“I own my own business making custom tufted rugs, and often do giveaways as a way of saying thank you for all the support I get, but I knew that if I did a raffle style that it could bring in a lot of support,” she said. “I’m already giddy with how much money has been raised!”

She notes that there is no limit to the amount of tickets one may purchase, and 100 per cent of the money from ticket sales will be going to the YES Youth Shelter.

Raffle tickets are on sale until Easter weekend. Tickets can be purchased online at the Shag Rags website.

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100 Women Peterborough Raises $10,000 for Peterborough AIDS Resource Network at First Meeting of the Year

The 100 Women Peterborough group came together for their first meeting of the year on March 21 to raise $10,000 for the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN).

photo courtesy of 100 women peterborough.

PARN was chosen by 100 Women Peterborough’s majority vote to receive the funds. The philanthropic group has supported local charities for five years, and donated over $164,000 to local community causes since its inception in 2018.

Peterborough AIDS Resource Network provides support and health promotion for people who are living with, affected by, or at-risk for HIV in the four counties of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton. They provide education and equipment for people at risk for HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.

PARN has been serving the community with both outreach and programming for LGBTQ+ youth and women who are living with, affected by or at-risk for HIV and continue to hold community capacity building projects, workshops and awareness to the broader community. They provide a variety of services including counselling, workshops and information on progression and treatment of the condition for those affected and their families. The organization also provides referrals to service providers, basic necessities to those in need and assistance with other health issues. 

“All donations received will be going to women actively involved with our organization by compensating their time and contribution toward continuously improving the services they want to receive,” said Dane Record, executive director of PARN. 

In PARN’s presentation to the members, Record stated the importance of working with volunteers in the community to fulfill their mission as an organization. 

“The Women’s Advisory and Women In Action committees are two of the most passionate, hardworking committees that show up frequently to lead our community work and continue our mission to prevent new HIV transmissions and promote HIV/AIDS awareness in Peterborough City and County,” said Record.

“Our philosophy at 100 Women Peterborough is to come together as a group to make a big impact. Through our giving group we not only empower women to engage in philanthropy in a meaningful way that is budget friendly, but we also provide a quick, easy and transparent way for the charities to access donors and funding,” says Rose Terry, one of the founding members of 100 Women Peterborough. “We are providing a space for the collective voice to be heard.”

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Fill the Boot and Support Muscular Dystrophy Awareness With the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association

Help Canadian Fire Fighters Fill the Boot for the 2022 fiscal year and raise critical funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC).

photo courtesy of stephanie page.

Fire fighters have answered MDC’s call for more than 67 years. Those who donate are making a difference for all Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders and ensuring more of these individuals can access the programs, services and supports they need.

Every year, starting usually in October, Stephanie Page of the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA) says boot drives, ladder sits, car pulls, car washes and all types of fundraising events are hosted to help raise funds for muscular dystrophy.

Page, who has newly taken on the donations committee role for Peterborough’s local department a few months ago, says with their raffle and the Peterborough Axe Throwing Club event from March 17, she hopes they’ll have hit over $1,000 raised.

“(I’m) in awe with how many funds firefighters have raised in the last few years,” said Page. “I’m excited to kind of take the reins on that and start it back up again, and then hopefully continue making it an annual thing.”

photo courtesy of stephanie page.

Page will soon be representing her department at a muscular dystrophy conference at the end of April.

She’ll get to network with other departments and discuss the effectiveness of their fundraising efforts, Page shares.

“I was honoured to be invited and hopefully I can gain some insight on what to do in the following years- and with more time,” Page said. “People have been really supportive, we’ve got a bunch of volunteers on the committee who try to get donations from local businesses.”

Donations for this fundraiser need to be submitted by March 30, though people can donate year round. The website is always open for donations and donating directly to the Peterborough team via the website.

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Dr. J's Hosting Viewing Party For Douro's Cody Crowley's Vegas Bout On Saturday Night

Ahead of Douro boxer Cody Crowley’s biggest fight in Las Vegas, boxing fans can view his fight at Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews viewing party and aid his ‘55 for Team 55’ fundraiser on Saturday night.

Photo courtesy of Cody Crowley.

The viewing party’s $20 admission fee goes toward Team 55: Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Assertive Outreach for Suicide Prevention program.

Crowley has a 21-0 record with nine knockouts. He is fighting Abel Ramos in the Showtime pay-per-view at a Premier Boxing Champions event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A Team 55 patch is being worn on his trunks for the fight.

Crowley dedicated his fight to his late father Jim Crowley who ended his own life last year. Cody pledged to raise $55,000 for Team 55. There was $18,840 already raised from a raffle with the grand prize of ringside tickets, flight and accommodation to see the fight.

Addison Brown, owner of Dr. J’s BBQ and Brews, has been Cody’s friend for the past eight years and is proud to support him in whatever way possible.

“When he was looking for sponsorships throughout Peterborough, I reached out to him saying ‘I’ve been following you and growing up as an athlete, I’ve had a lot of support with the community and I wanted to sponsor you for the next fight,’” explained Brown. “We grew and developed a relationship. He helped me when I was going through some things about my brother and I did with his father.”

Reservations for the fight can be made at the Dr. J’s website.

Cody spoke at a Team 55 Friday Night Lights fundraiser in 2017 that sparked a friendship with Dave Pogue, Team 55 founder who lost his son Mitchell to suicide.

“Cody’s commitment to fundraising in the name of his father, through his international boxing platform not only is commendable but amazing, as far as we are concerned at Team 55,” he said. “Since 2017, Cody has been a great supporter of our mental health and suicide awareness programs and for him to commit to raising $55,000 for Team 55 this year will help keep our Assertive Outreach for Suicide Prevention program running for another year and a half.”

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Hometown PTBO: Marc Hartenberg and Pizza Hut Raising Money for Epilepsy Peterborough For "Purple Day" and His Diagnosis

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday speaks with Pizza Hut Co-owner Marc Hartenberg who has been diagnosed with epilepsy about how he got his condition and how Pizza Hut is raising money with 10 per cent of all total sales going towards Epilepsy Peterborough for Purple Day on March 26.

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19th Annual YWCA Empty Bowls Raises Over $33,000 in support of YWCA Nourish Food Programs

The 19th Annual YWCA Empty Bowls campaign raised $33,104 to support their Nourish Food Programs held at The Venue on Feb. 25, announced on Wednesday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YWCA.

“Our hearts are so full,” said Kim Dolan, YWCA Executive Director. “When I pause to think about all the people and all the time that goes into making this event possible year after year, I’m overwhelmed by the good in our community.”

Ticket holders received a handcrafted ceramic or wooden bowl and a restaurant coupon card, entitling them to discounts from 12 participating local restaurants. These include Amandala’s, Baked 4U, Black Honey, Central Smith, Fresh Dreams, Naked Chocolate, Pastry Peddler, Sam’s Place, That’s a Wrap and The Cheesy Fromage. 

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Peterborough Petes Raise $65,000 For PRHC From Pink In the Rink Campaign

The Peterborough Petes have raised $64,870 for the 2023 Pink in the Rink Campaign towards cancer care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.

A cheque presentation took place at the PRHC on Tuesday, featuring campaign ambassadors, PRHC and Petes staff and Roger the Mascot.

A total of $954,136 has been raised after this year’s campaign. This year’s campaign raised a preliminary fundraising total of $62,600, with donations continuing to roll in after the annual Pink in the Rink game on Feb. 4.

“Through incredible fan support, and the work of our Campaign and Physician Ambassadors, it is exciting to see that the 2023 Pink in the Rink campaign put us within reach of the $1 million fundraising mark,” commented Burton Lee, Petes executive director of business operations. “The Peterborough community did what it does best on February 4 and that is get behind an important cause, all in support and recognition of some truly inspiring hockey moms.” 

Five local hockey moms: Dara Gosselin, Jennie Ireland, Elke Rye, Karen Tarkington and Dana Thorn were named Hockey Mom Ambassadors for the 2023 Campaign. They joined Physician Ambassador Dr. Neera Jeyabalan, PRHC Foundation President; CEO Leslie Heighway and Chris Hinze, Minor Hockey Pink in the Rink organizer and husband of late hockey mom Melissa Hinze, on the ice before the 2023 Pink in the Rink Game for a ceremony recognizing all of their cancer journeys.

The Petes play their last home game of the regular season against the East-leading Ottawa 67s with puck drop for scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Pizza Hut Fundraising For 'Purple Day' For Epilepsy Awareness Month; Proceeds Towards Peterborough Epilepsy

Pizza Hut’s colours are changing from red for ‘Purple Day’ on Epilepsy Awareness Month to fundraise for Epilepsy Peterborough on Sunday.

Miranda Zeppieri (left) with Marc Hartenberg, Pizza Hut co-owner (right) prepping for Purple Day. Photo courtesy of Epilepsy Peterborough.

Four Pizza Hut locations from the Peterborough and surrounding area are participating where 10 per cent of all sales go towards supporting those in the community who are diagnosed with epilepsy.

The following are the participating locations:

• 901 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough

• 705 George St. N., Peterborough

• 132 Queen St., Lakefield

• 1 Commerce Rd., Lindsay

Miranda Zeppieri and her brother Michael were diagnosed with epilepsy at six years old and five weeks old respectively. Initiatives like these have Miranda grateful that they exist and create awareness.

“We’re really just emphasizing getting awareness out there about those like myself and my brother who live with it,” she explained. “Yes, it brings its challenges but it’s something that is a part of everyday life and how it affects it is vastly different based on an individual basis.”

Guests are encouraged to wear purple on that day, eat pizza and enjoy the company of the staff.

Epilepsy Peterborough representatives will be on site to provide information for anyone who wishes to learn more about epilepsy and/or the services they offer.

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Peterborough Petes Fundraising "Big Game For Kids" For Peterborough Bigs For Mentoring Services

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough and Peterborough Petes are launching the ‘Big Game for Kids’ initiative to raise funds to support local children in need of mentoring services on Thursday’s game.

Riyen (left) and Kohl (right) enjoy a Petes game in January. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Bigs.

The Petes are playing at the Peterborough Memorial Centre against the East-leading Ottawa 67s and is the final home game of the season. Discounted tickets are $15 with all proceeds towards Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough.

"We are thrilled to partner with the Peterborough Petes for this exciting event," said Brent Shepherd, Peterborough Bigs executive director. "The funds raised through this initiative will go a long way in helping us find a mentor for a child, support current mentoring matches and provide much-needed programs for children on our waitlist."

Shepard says roughly 20 tickets of the original 200 are left for purchase and can be bought online.

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