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2 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, February 3, 2011 Town to host reception to outline local projects for corporate donors Donors say they are often approached after donation budget is set By CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer The Town of Halton Hills will host a reception for potential corporate donors sometime early in 2011, possibly as soon as later this month. During the reception the Town will outline upcoming municipal capital projects that corporations with a corporate giving policy could help out with. Holcim/Dufferin Aggregates suggested the reception idea to the Town, noting that the current system is `helter skelter' and they are often approached for dollars during the year, after their donation budget has already been set. Mayor Rick Bonnette said at the December council meeting that it was a good idea because the Town will be spending a lot of money on large ticket items over the next four years, and a lot of these will be dependent on `I can think of three or four companies that may be ripe for the picking in the near future.' MIKE O'LEARY fundraising. At the reception the corporations would make their policies known, and hear from the Town and its partners on types of projects and their priorities in the years ahead that will require cor- porate donations. Companies can then pick the project that matches best with their corporate giving mandate. "To be fair to all of these companies, if the Town is going to be knocking on doors that we try to let these companies know ahead of time what we'll be looking at," said the mayor. "I can think of three or four companies that may be ripe for the picking in the near future," said Acton Councillor Mike O'Leary, noting the reception is also a good way to thank local corporations for their generosity in the past. Over the years the Holcim/Dufferin Aggregates had donated to numerous local causes including the new Acton Library, the Dufferin Centre in Prospect Park, Light Up the Hills, Halton Hills Sports Museum, and just recently, a $100,000 donation to the Georgetown Hospital. Home Alone safety During the St. John Ambulance Home Alone course at the Masonic Temple Monday Morgan Jones, 10, (right) learned how to properly place a bandage on Taylor Quinn, 9, under the supervision of St. John first aid instructor Erin Birkenbergs. Home Alone is a new St. John Ambulance safety course geared to 9-10 year-olds whose parents realize their kids may be at home by themselves for short periods of time. The program helps parents feel confident their child is prepared to be home alone for the first time and can safely take care of themselves. The children learn about fire safety, routines, safe snacks, emergency preparedness, power outages, hazardous wastes and home alone security, as well as when to call 911. Photo by Ted Brown