Businesses and athletes help us – so we can keep on helping

Nicolas Carpentier

July 2009

For 55 years, Sun Youth has been helping Montrealers in need. Such longevity can be explained by the partnership that the organization has established with the corporate world over the years.

Top: The Des Sources fundraiser: (From left to right; back row) Sun Youth basketball co-ordinator Kara De La Perralle, sports and recreation director Ernest Rosa, crime prevention co-ordinator Sacha Anglarill, hockey star Vincent Lecavalier, Sun Youth bike patroller Duane Collins, Des Sources Dodge Chrysler Jeep owners Benny Bouganim, Sebastian Pitruzzello and Sylvain Loiselle, Yvon Lecavalier (Vincent’s father), Sun Youth director of crime prevention and victim services Helio Galego, (front row) Sun Youth bike patrollers Gabrielle Vachon, Daniel Brisebois and Joey Di Caprio, bike patrol West Island supervisor Troy Graggs III, bike patrollers Marc-Olivier Roy, David Testa, Paul Brisebois, Jeffrey Araujo and Yussef Sakhir. Click image to view larger version.

One of Sun Youth’s long-time corporate partners is Des Sources Dodge Chrysler Jeep. On June 15, the good people at Des Sources welcomed hockey star Vincent Lecavalier for an autograph signing fundraiser at the Dollard des Ormeaux dealership. Fans of Lecavalier were invited to bring sports memorabilia to have it autographed by the Montreal- born Tampa Bay Lightning player and were treated to a free barbecue.

The Sun Youth Bike Patrol West Island team was onsite to assist with the event. The funds collected went toward financing the Sun Youth Day Camp. Sun Youth would like to thank Vincent Lecavalier and everyone at Des Sources Dodge Chrysler Jeep, including owners Benny Bouganim, Sebastian Pitruzzello and Sylvain Loiselle.

Tidan Hospitality Group: (From left to right) Le Nouvel Hôtel & Spa general manager Carlos Solomon, Sun Youth basketball co-ordinator Kara De La Perralle, sports and recreation director Ernest Rosa, Le Nouvel Hôtel & Spa sales and marketing director Michelle Elfassy, Hôtel Maritime Plaza sale and marketing director Nicolas Billerot, general manager Andre Albano, Travelodge Montreal Centre sales and marketing director Danny Lioi, Le Meridie Versailles Montreal & Château Versailles sales and marketing director Sandie Moran and John Dore.

The Sun Youth Sports and Recreation Department established another partnership with the corporate world in December 2008 for its annual holiday basketball tournament. This event has been an institution for over 25 years. It brings together teams from Quebec and other Canadian provinces as well as young athletes from the United States.

In the current economic climate, it has become increasingly difficult to attract teams from outside Montreal because the costs of transportation and housing are too much for those at the amateur sports level.

Prior to the beginning of the tournament, director of sports and recreation Ernest Rosa approached the Tidan Hospitality Group to obtain complimentary hotel rooms for out-of-town athletes taking part in the Sun Youth tournament. The Tidan representative did not hesitate to grant the organization 70 complimentary rooms for the duration of the tournament. On June 8, Sun Youth paid a visit to the Tidan Hospitality Group to honour their involvement by awarding them with plaques.

The Sun Youth Emergency Services Department counts on the support of corporations as well. The Parisloft Dental Centre has been a partner of Sun Youth for three years and gives a percentage of its profits to support the organization. For 2008-2009, Parisloft and Dr. Alain Leduc donated more than 6,000 dental hygiene kits to give to fire victims assisted by Sun Youth’s emergency response team.

Helping fire victims get smiles back on their faces: Dr. Alain Leduc with dental assistants Debora Kim (left) and Venise Drolet (right).

Dr. Leduc also announced that for 2009-2010, the centre will donate $10,000 to the Sun Youth Food Bank to purchase milk and eggs. The Parisloft Dental Centre adheres to the organization’s values of altruism, mutual assistance and commitment to build a strong relationship of trust with its patients and the community.