A year of success for the Canadian Tire JumpStart program

Paul Shelley, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, says that successful sport and recreational outcomes are being realized for 1,449 children as a result of government�s investment of $250,000 into its partnership with the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families� JumpStart program.

Canadian Tire JumpStart provides financially disadvantaged children in Newfoundland and Labrador with the opportunity to participate in a variety of sport and recreational activities. It helps close this gap by providing funding of up to $300 per child per year.

"As a former physical education teacher, I believe there is lasting and long-term health and lifestyle benefits for children who participate in sport and recreational activities," said Minister Shelley. "The JumpStart program helps to even the playing field and enables more of our children to take advantage of a variety of worthwhile physical activities."

"This model works. It builds community, gets volunteers involved and provides young people with limited resources the opportunity to participate in sport and recreation," said Gordon Cressy, president of the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families. "We look forward to continuing this partnership as Canadian Tire JumpStart grows."

Program choices are quite broad and can include dance, martial arts, swimming as well as team sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer and hockey. The funding is generally applied to offset registration fees and on a case by case basis instruction, equipment and transportation costs.

The success and strength of Canadian Tire JumpStart rests with the community. The program is administered through 10 chapters working throughout the province in partnership with 37 communities and 79 sponsoring agencies. The community partners serve to identify children and families who are not in a position to financially contribute without assistance from the program. The Canadian Tire Foundation for Families supports the administration of the program so that fully 100 per cent of the allotted funding can go directly to helping children. Overall, the JumpStart program has approximately $350,000 annually available in combined government and foundation support.

"Our foundation is delighted to partner with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to support this unique Canadian Tire JumpStart program which is national in scope but local in delivery," said Mr. Cressy.

"I commend the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers and staff who diligently work on behalf of our children at the community level to deliver this valuable program," said Minister Shelley. "The Canadian Tire Foundation for Families is to be commended for their hard work and dedication to the needs of children."

Media contact: Ed Moriarity, Communications, (709) 729-4042, 728-9623

2006 08 30       2:10 p.m.