Several years ago, when Mike Genge, president and CEO of the Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) Foundation, said he was going to run a charity golf tournament and charge $750 per entrant, I thought he was making a mistake.
It sold out.
For years.
I told him I would stop doubting him.
But when he announced this summer that he and his team were going to hold a two-week, $500,000 fundraising push to finish off the Butterfly Build campaign for the new centre, I thought he was being pretty darned bold.
Even after seeing all the events and fundraising options the team had lined up, from karaoke to high tea, to various parties, I thought crossing that fundraising $500,000 finish line was a tough call.
Then the first day of the blitz took place. More than $340,000 in donations poured in from service organizations, families, and businesses.
Heck, as I chatted with Genge a day later, a church official showed up at the foundation’s office with a cheque.
By Oct. 11, $402,000 had been raised from blitz events and community support, on top of the kickoff donations.
Mike Genge, I apologize for the doubt. Again.
I know we are still in the final stages of the push, but, wow.
He’s quick to deflect credit. Genge said the reason for all the support is the Children’s Treatment Centre.
“This big part of the Children’s Treatment Centre is people get what we do. And we’ve been doing this for 75 years,” he said.
On Oct. 7, kickoff day for the final push, the service clubs, such as Sertoma and Rotary, lined up in support. Cheques for $125,000, $80,000, etc. were handed over.
“All those organizations, they believe in the project. The service clubs believe,” Genge said.
The CTC-CK helps more than 7,000 kids at the moment, with another 700 or so on a waiting list for support. In fact, about one in five C-K kids benefit from services offered at the centre.
Rehabilitation services offered include speech therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and autism services.
Construction on the new 58,000 sq. ft. centre on McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham began in mid-summer. The provincial government has committed $59 million to cover construction costs. The foundation’s task is to raise $10 million to furnish the centre with equipment.
As the shovels went into the ground, the foundation had raised about $9.5 million. Hence the final push.
The blitz is still underway. I urge folks to help any way they can. Attend one of the fundraising events (full details are available at buildforthekids.ca), or buy a T-shirt or even a butterfly.
Campaign T-shirts are $25, with an order form available online and pickup at the Foundation office.
Students and employees at participating local businesses can purchase paper butterflies, which can be personalized and displayed in schools and businesses.
Genge, meantime, remains cautiously optimistic they’ll reach their goal.
“People are seeing the momentum,” he said. “I think we’re in pretty good shape. I think we’ll get to that number ($500,000). I’m just now sure how we’ll get there.”
As in which events will bring in the funds.
I don’t doubt they’ll get there. C-K shows up in great support for important causes.
