The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 27, 2009 - 15 Waffle Day was a sweet success W affle Day at the Y announced the launch of the 2009 YMCA Strong Kids Campaign in Oakville. More than $1,500 was raised by local YMCA volunteers, members and employees at this year's Waffle Day event, attended by children of all ages at the forefront of the YMCA's Community Giving Campaign. Lobby lineups at five tables saw nearly 1,200 waffles served -- complete with strawberry topping and whipped cream. Appreciation goes to Arthur Chan, president of Waffles International in Oakville, and his family, all longtime active members of the YMCA, who helped make this event a success. Because of his relationship with the Y, Chan supports the core values of the YMCA and the goals to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities. When Deborah Thomson from the YMCA's Financial Development Office expressed her gratitude, he responded, "I've benefited from the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, and I know how the Y has helped my son, so I'd like to make a gesture to support the Strong Kids campaign. This is a beautiful facility with friendly, approachable staff." The YMCA Strong Kids campaign seeks to raise For more information about the YMCA of Oakville, call the Y at 905845-3417 or go online to www.ymcaofoakville.com. The YMCA of Oakville is a charitable association open to all, money to support children and youths who need Y financial assistance. "The YMCA is a charity," said Thomson. "We believe that everyone should be able to participate in our programs, regardless of their ability to pay the fees." The funds raised by the 2009 YMCA Strong Kids Campaign will benefit Oakville kids and families. As Oakville's population grows, so too, do requests for assistance. In 2008, the YMCA of Oakville helped more than 1,500 children and their families and we anticipate 2009 to be a record year for financial assistance requests. Raising $200,000 in 2009 is our campaign goal. You can donate online at www.ymcastrongkids.ca. Thank you. The YMCA thanks everyone who helped make this kickoff event for 2009 a sweet success. Bookmark the Oakville YMCA website, www.ymcaofoakville.com, and visit often. The YMCA of Oakville, located at 410 Rebecca St. is a charitable organization open to all. dedicated to providing life-long opportunities for health enhancement and personal growth. -- Submitted by the YMCA of Oakville