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~unrise grapples with Whitby Free Press, Weclnesday, October 16, 1996, Page 15 probleni and funding culs BY Amy Blund.H Sunrisewho? Tony Petrarta, executive director of Sunris. Youtli Group, says that "tiios. twc wordg are the. organization'é biggest stumbling block. 'No on. knows wiio we are," lie says. "They know about the. Cancer Sociéty and ail the other large charitable organizations, which are al wonderful, but no one knows about us." Sunris. Youth Group is a non-profit, charitable organization founded by Petrarca to create social a nd recreational opprtunities for young adulte with developmental disabiities. cf.Msfriens, al niversity Pfhetfrrca, al n w rit on students at the trne, began the. group in 1991. At flrst, the group consisted only of a 't residential camp iield at Algonquin Park. mhe next year, they held the camp again and added a week of day trips. mhe' program was so popular and in sucli great demand that, two years ago, it Ibecame a year-round project. In the past, Sunirise organizers have applied!for governiment funding to help witii their activities and excursions. This year, however, their japplication was completely rejected. "Tii. ironic thing". Petrarca says, "is that this ear we ask ed for less money j than lastyer "Ve planned to, eacii year, aep"Ifo lssfunding. '11mgh orefundraisini and more cornmunit support, we had hoped thai by the year 2000, we would be a seif-sufficieni organization. "Unfortunately, the government just didn't wanl to fund us at ail." Because cf the govern.ment cutbacks, Sunris. has beezn forced to also make cuts. Th.y have shortened the length of their residentia], camp by a day and laid off most of their staff That makes the. organization'.- volunteers even mor, important. Sunrise han about 190) volunteers, helping witli camp, clubs, retreats and tripe. Th.y also help to organize the. fundraisers which, because of cutbackS, ha ve been elevated this year. "W. want to concetrat. on our pragma, Petrara says. "W. know that there is always fundraising that lias to b. don.. "It just seems that, tii... daye, fundraisin sail we talk about. "Money in constantly an issue and is going to be for the. rest of the y.ar. "It's going to be a very difflcult year for us." The. groupls biggest fundraiser this year wiil b. the. Aerobatlion te be lield on Nov. 26 at the. ASE Kng Fitness Complex in east Osiiawa. There wiil b, three 45- minute aerobic classes, a fashion show, a health fair and Club Carib's steel drurn band will perform. There wiil also b. prize 9 giv.aways, courtesy of the Yr Sony Store. tPetrarca hopes that the. imze and the entertaimnent -t wiil be "good incentive for people te çorne eut and Bcoll.ct a lot of pledges.* The. mon.y from the t Aerobathon and ether 1fundraisers such as; car wasliee and Sunrise Palooza, 3wMch is terveson of Lola 1Palooza, with local, bande, fgeKes towards retreats, their winter festval, athletic clubs, campouts and trips te iParamount Canada'. Wonderland, the. Science Centre and Raptons'garnes. F unds for these activities 1aIse corne from their sponsors. Their two major sponsors are the. Rotary Club of Whitby and the, Rotary Club of Wbitby Sunris.. Tii. group aIse receives support frern the Durham Centre MPP Jim Flaherty. "He is active in lobbying and appealing the. cutbacks made te, our group,« says Petrarca about Flaherty's efforts. Witli or witiiout government funding, or activities and excursions, Petrarca feels that wiiat Sunris. ha. .stablisiied i. fan more important than trips , te Canada'. Wonderland or cabin retreats. "W. are ail friends," he says. "Non. cf us think of ourselves as volunteers or staff. 'Tus group is just frienda, spending time with friends. "That's sometbing no very important; it'.sernething no one, not even the. government can take away from us.* The 25th anniversary célebration and reunion gala for the Oshawa Festival Singera wiil be held Nov. 2 at the Salvation Arrny Temple in Oshawa. There will be a gathering from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and concert at 7:30 p.m. Ail former members should oei 728-1854 or 728-8906 for more informatlin- ~ DESIGNER KITnLîCENS &BATHS 333 Kingston.Roa Kingston Rd * TheeRou. Ravn. alforS * ail .8 -325 5 6 months FREE Internet Acçess with this AD! 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