Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle program gets a major boost

Cumberland City Councillor and recreation champion Stephen Blais has donated $5000 Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGCO) to help support ongoing programs that promote active, healthier lifestyles for youth.

“Programs that the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa offer help create Ottawa’s next generation of community leaders,” says Councillor Blais. “I am pleased to help another great community resource that mentors not only our kids in Orléans, but across Ottawa as well,” adds Blais.

The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa (BGCO) provides an all-encompassing, four pillar program approach consisting of: Education, Physical Activity/Healthy Lifestyle; Leadership and Social Skills; and Creative Arts. Providing exposure to, and support in, all these areas ensure that BGCO members are provided with the necessary tools to develop the life skills and confidence required to succeed and become effective and productive community leaders.

BGCO has been serving Ottawa’s children and youth- most deemed “at-risk” since 1923 and provides approximately 4,500 young people crucial after-school, weekend and summer programs and support. In 2015, the BGCO saw over 103,000 member visits at its 7 locations- a 99% increase since 2009.

“The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is grateful for the generous support it has received from Councillor Stephen Blais,” says Tony Giampietro, Senior Development Officer with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. “With this donation, we are able to continue delivering after-school, weekend and summer programming to at-risk children and youth in our community through our Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle area,” he adds.

The $5,000 donation will be applied to BGCO’s “Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyle” pillar. These programs are largely run on community and financial support. This donation is important as it enables BGCO to always be in a position to accommodate at-risk children and youth while providing positive guidance and activities for youth.

“The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa have helped many Orléans kids in the past; their hard work and dedication is very impressive,” says Councillor Blais. “Donations such as mine and others help keep these programs running; it’s a service and a community resource that we simply can’t do without,” he adds.

The funds were raised by private donors through the annual Action Orléans golf tournament and donated on behalf of Action Orléans – a not for profit club that has been helping arts, sports, and other groups throughout Ottawa.

For more information on the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, the Four Pillar Program, or to make a donation, please visit: http://www.bgcottawa.org/