Vancouver Canadians Foundation: Who Does It Reach?

(Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, B.C.) - You are truly changing lives for the better. It's been nearly eight years since the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation took flight providing hope, opportunity and the chance to truly transform a child's path in life steering them towards a brighter future.
Thanks in large part to your generosity and faith in our commitments within the community, we have been able to welcome more than 1,500 children into our Vancouver Canadians Baseball League where they receive the chance to play organized baseball, cost-free all summer long. Add to that a warm meal, transportation to and from historic Scotiabank Field each week AND a fully committed baseball bag with a certified batting helmet and personalized glove and you can see why it's becoming harder each year to keep up with demand.
From introducing local children to the game of baseball to seeing them right through to post-secondary school, this year we raised the bar with our commitment in large part thanks to the generosity of Vancouver Canadians partner Jeff Mooney and his wife Suzanne. Together they donated $75,000 toward the creation of a Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship program that in cooperation with The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC has already done some remarkable things.
For many, the thought of post-secondary education quickly dissipates when the challenge of having to meet the financial burden becomes real. Even with suitable grades, some families just can't make ends meet leaving the potential student to either sink themselves into substancial debt or leave their dreams behind. Our Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship program has already steered a number of bright minded students back toward the classroom thanks to your generosity and trust.
In December, we awarded a number of scholarships to Boys & Girls Club of South Coast BC who showed a willingness and desire to continue their education beyond high-school. Whether it was a four-year school like the University of British Columbia or a technical diploma program at one of Vancouver's many accredited institutions, we felt it was best to simply support whatever dreams these children had and provide them with simply the chance to walk through the front door with their heads held high.
ABOUT OUR RECIPIENTS:
Ivy, 19, has been with KiMount Club for the past 12 years and has become a beacon of light for those who have come after her. From being a bright-eyed child simply happy being a part of something like The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC she has blossomed into a leader within her community and always finds the positive in any situation. Recently Ivy attended the BGCC National Youth Forum in Kamloops, B.C. and became a volunteer leader at Camp Potlatch.
Her hope was to become a hairstylist because Ivy has always seen how the art of styling can change someone's confidence on the inside and out. She was recently accepted into the Aveda Institute of Canada and the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship program will cover the cost of her education.
"The Boys & Girls Club was definitely a big factor in my development from the time I was seven-ears old up to now. It has always been a safe place for me to go and quietly be able to do work, hang out with my friends, be sad in a safe space and talk to one of the staff members," says Ivy.
Tommy, 18, has received a multi-year commitment from the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship program to attend the Justice Institute of British Columbia as he begins his journey toward becoming a paramedic.
"BGC was my second home. The club has been there for me during the highs and the lows of my life. I am so proud to receive this scholarship as now my father can put his financial efforts back towards other areas of the household. It has always been my dream to study hard and graduate so that I can have a good career and repay my family for what they have done for me."
Tommy has been with The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC since he was six-years old and has always been compassionate and trustworthy - and now has the chance to take those skills and weave them into his dream of becoming a paramedic as he begins by taking the Emergency Medical Responders program.
Sarah, 18, has received a multi-year commitment from the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship Program to become a nurse through the highly-acclaimed Langara College program.
Known as a caring and compassionate young lady, Sarah has been at the Fraserview Club since she was six-years old and has been a part of the Raising The Grade program overcoming challenges and learning how to build for her future which suddenly looks a lot brighter with this additional support.
"Sarah has always put others first at the club, even if she is struggling herself. This career choice is excellent for Sarah as we all know she will make a tremendous nurse," says Les, one of the workers with Fraserview Club.
These are just some of the 2017 Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation Scholarship recipients and we couldn't be prouder to help these young men and women become exactly what they aspired to be.
Our thanks to every donor and volunteer that helped us reach this point. To have a Foundation that not only reaches young boys and girls through our Baseball League and Challenger Baseball but now helps support UBC T-birds Baseball student /athletes AND a brand new group of inspiring youth is exactly why we as an organization committed to this initiative. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you and congratulations to all of our recipients.
-30-