For Immediate Release
July 8, 2024

The Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine Donates $10,000 to the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation

Funds will support local children and youth to attend summer camp or participate in extracurricular activities

TIMMINS — The North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation is pleased to announce a $10,000 donation from the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine. This substantial contribution will provide local children and youth with the opportunity to attend a summer camp or participate in an extracurricular activity of their choice, offering invaluable experiences and fostering personal growth.

“We had the opportunity to donate these funds to the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation to assist the youth in enriching their time at a summer camp or getting involved in a sport. With the Foundation, they would know through their processes how the funds should be distributed. As our motto states ‘Serving our community’s greatest need’, this is one the club decided on,” said Sam Barbuto, President of the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine.

The funds from the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine were raised through the Timmins Charitable Gaming Association. This support will enable the Foundation to offer enriching experiences to young persons in the Timmins area served by North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS).

"We are incredibly grateful to the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine for their generosity and commitment to our community," said Don Anderson, Acting Board Chair of the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation. "This donation will have a significant impact on the lives of many children in Timmins, giving them a chance to experience the joys of summer camp or other activities and create lasting memories."

Josée Bélanger, Director of Services at NEOFACS added, “For many families, the opportunity for their children to attend summer camp or participate in extracurricular activities is simply out of reach due to financial constraints. This generous donation will allow children and youth receiving services from our child welfare, child and youth mental health, or other supportive programs to experience summer camp and organized sports or other activities.”

The North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children, youth, and families in communities throughout the districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming. Through various community initiatives, the Foundation supports innovative and urgently-needed programs and services that are not government-funded for NEOFACS. For more information about the Foundation or to learn more about supporting its fundraising efforts, please visit https://www.neofacs.org/foundation.

Pictured (Left to Right): Sam Barbuto, Dave Brazeau, and John Curley of the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine presented a cheque to Don Anderson, Acting Board Chair of the North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation, and Mélanie Watson, Communications Coordinator of North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) at the Annual Day in the Park event on July 7, 2024 at the White Waterfront Park in South Porcupine.

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About the Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine and Kin Canada:

The Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine was formed in 1975 and is part of the Kin Canada Association. Kin Canada is an all-Canadian service organization made up of dedicated member volunteers who serve their community’s greatest need through hosting and sponsoring events and community service projects. Since its founding, Kin, Kinsmen and Kinette clubs across Canada have contributed more than $1 billion to Canadian communities and disaster relief programs beyond our borders. Learn more at http://www.kincanada.ca.

About North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation:

The North Eastern Ontario Children’s Foundation is a registered charity that was originally established in 1979 as the Porcupine and District Children’s Foundation. Its mandate is to support North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) by raising funds through community engagement to improve the lives of children, youth and families in the Districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming by supporting them in experiences that would otherwise be unattainable due to financial considerations. For more information, please visit https://www.neofacs.org/foundation.

Media Contacts:

Mélanie Watson, Communications Coordinator
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services
705-360-2121 | melanie.watson@neofacs.org

Sam Barbuto, President
Kinsmen Club of the Porcupine
705-406-5317 | sambarbuto12@gmail.com