West Island Community Shares’ held its 18th annual golf tournament on June 6th at the beautiful Beaconsfield Golf Club. Sponsored by Pfizer Canada, TELUS, West Island Ford Lincoln, Roxboro Excavation, Aqua Spa Lyne Giroux and the Marriott Airport Montreal In-Terminal Hotel, the tournament raised $56,000.
West Island Community Shares raises funds for 40 local community groups. 1 in 5 West Islanders turns to these groups for help to cope with cancer, hunger, bullying, substance abuse, autism and more. 60% of those helped are children and youth. “Thank you to our event partners, guests and volunteers who all contributed to the success of the tournament,” said Caroline Tison, Executive Director. “Their support is making a real difference in the lives of their fellow citizens in need.”
Action Jeunesse de l’Ouest-de-l’Île (AJOI) is one of the groups that receives funding. Their intervention street workers help West Island youth aged 12-25 years old deal with homelessness, addiction, violence, suicidal thoughts and more. At the tournament dinner, Benoît Langevin, Director, said that last year his team made more than 24270 contacts with youth that led to 6219 interventions (accompaniments, referrals, follow-ups, etc.). “Without funding from West Island Community Shares, this wouldn’t be possible,” said Mr. Langevin.
During the tournament dinner, Ms. Tison announced that West Island Ford Lincoln is Community Shares’ newest corporate partner. The company is contributing $20,000, making it a gold-level partner. Corporate partners are the mainstay of West Island Community Shares unique model of distributing 100% of donations received to local community groups since they cover the group’s operational costs. “West Island Ford Lincoln is proud to support West Island Community Shares in its mission of ensuring that all West Islanders in need can find help close to home,” said Patrick Tobin, Vice President and Luc Soucy, President, West Island Ford Lincoln.
Ms. Tison also thanked other tournament partners including Porter Airlines, Tenaquip, West Island IGA grocers, Rideau Recognition Solutions, Table 09, Infografilm, The Beat 92.5, Bravo, Labatt, Celeste Levure and Private Event Design. As well, golfers enjoyed a variety of treats on the course including samplings from La Maison Verte, 40 Westt Steakhouse and Table 09. For those with a sweet tooth, Lambert Ice Cream offered tastings of iced yogurt. La Celeste Levure was on site to offer wine tasting and the Beat 92.5 squad animated the “Closest to the pin” contest.
About West Island Community Shares
West Island Community Shares is a unique non-profit organization dedicated to helping West Islanders in need. With the help of caring West Island citizens, companies and associations, it raises crucial funds for 40 local community groups. These groups offer help, comfort and support to residents with many different needs. Since 1998, it has raised and distributed more than $12 million to local community groups. West Island Community Shares’ model is unique because it distributes 100% of donations received to the groups it supports. It is the only not-for-profit in Canada to implement and sustain this model for 18 years. This is made possible by the following corporate partners that cover its operational costs: National Bank, Pfizer Canada, Merck, Desjardins, Tenaquip Ltd., Telus, Pharmaprix, Avon Canada, Groupe Jean Coutu, West Island Ford Lincoln, the Spinelli Employee Fund, BDO, Bromelin People Practices, Construction Jean Houde, Groom and Associates, the Montreal Marriott Airport In-Terminal Hotel, NAS, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pharmascience and Roxboro Excavation.
West Island Community Shares is proud to have earned Imagine Canada’s Standards Program Accreditation. The accreditation testifies to its excellence in governance, financial accountability and transparency, fundraising, staff management and volunteer involvement. www.communityshares.ca
