The Children’s Aid Foundation of Halton (CAFH), a Burlington-based charity devoted to empowering youth, accepted a $30,071 donation from the Moon in June road race organizers at City Hall this morning (Sept. 12).
The donation came from the proceeds of the 35th Moon in June race that took place in downtown Burlington on June 1, as the race selects a local charity to receive the funds raised every year.
The CAFH is the charitable arm of the Halton Children’s Aid Society, and provides programs, resources and support to children and families receiving aid from the society.
“We fund programs for the children that are enhancing and enriching the lives of youth who are being raised in care and the families that are supporting them, be it their own family, kin families or foster families,” Tina Blatchford, executive director at CAFH, said. “We fund programs that are altering lives, providing post-secondary education for children in care or providing beds to youth moving out on their own. We try to do what we can to make children and youth feel cared for and loved and give them the stepping stones to move on and be independent.”
The CAFH also helps young people with student debt, provides welcome and comfort kits for children and caregivers, provides support for young people at risk of homelessness and more.
Moon in June race director Greg Pace was at the event to sign and hand over the large cheque to CAFH, and spoke on how the race prioritizes the needs of Burlington.
“Your money allows us to make more money, and that money goes to Children’s Aid,” Pace said. “We’ve always had a goal with our charity, and that is that the money we raise has to stay in Burlington. It has to be driven towards the youth and children in Burlington and the organization has to be a helper with our event and be involved. Children’s Aid have stepped up in such a huge way to help us.”
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was also present, along with councillors Shawna Stolte and Kelvin Galbraith, and the mayor has taken part in the race for the past few years.
“You’re never too young and never too old to make a huge difference in your community and do some good while also getting some exercise,” Meed Ward said. “That’s the true Burlington spirit. We stand with each other in times of trouble, and that’s exactly what everyone here is doing.”
More than 5,000 Halton youth are served annually by the Halton Children’s Aid Society.