Alumni Game Helps Food Bank
For Immediate Release:
December 23, 2010
2nd Annual Alumni Game Scores 730lb Food for Community
Lakehead Express Soccer Club donates food and announces OTF grant
Honourable Bill Mauro and Lakehead Express Current and Former Players presenting the RFDA with food donation. Photo courtesy LEX Soccer
THUNDER BAY, ON – The Lakehead Express Soccer Club (LEX) hosted its 2nd Annual Lakehead Express Alumni Game, in support of the Thunder Bay Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) at the Sports Dome. The Honourable Bill Mauro, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan, was on hand to present a plaque commemorating a $15,000 grant received by LEX from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Joining MPP Mauro was OTF representative Jason Hughes, to officially congratulate LEX as they presented 730 pounds of food to RFDA.
“I am pleased to be here today to congratulate Lakehead Express Soccer Club for their continued commitment to supporting active lifestyles through soccer for youth in our community,” said MPP Mauro. “Additionally, the support they have shown through their alumni game for the Regional Food Distribution Association is a wonderful gift to the community and those in need.”
The OTF grant will be used over the next year towards the purchase of equipment and furnishings for the office of LEX. The volunteer-led organization continues to support community initiatives and nurture a love of soccer with local youth. New training equipment will help LEX ensure players have access to improve performance and development of skills.
The RFDA fundraising initiative was a success in 2009, and has garnered more support of team members this year. The donation of non-perishable food items was raised by the club’s competitive youth rep teams, and more was collected through admissions to the game. Volker Kromm, Executive Director of the RFDA, was on hand to accept the food and was delighted by the clubs contribution. “It is great to see that youth are stepping forward and realizing the significance of these types of donations,” said Kromm. “As a community we need to continue to harness this type of positive energy. With the entire club getting behind this drive, it multiplies the effect the donation will have on the people in need.”
The City of Thunder Bay was represented by Councillor At Large, Aldo Ruberto, who believes organizations like LEX have an important role to play in supporting our community. “Here is another example of a sports club that is not just providing opportunities for its players to go onto higher levels of competition or education, but is engraining in our youth the importance of giving back to the community,” stated Ruberto.
A leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities. www.trilliumfoundation.org
