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Sink One For Jake benefits adults with Down syndrome by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 15 | Thursday, March 31, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Have a Heart for Down Syndrome (HHDS) is more than a pet project for Oakville's Grant Furlane. It's a way to create real change in the lives of adults living with Down syndrome. "Having the ability to do something, I said, `Why don't we create something to help these kids rather than do what everyone else was doing, complain about government funding?'," he told the Oakville Beaver recently. "You can complain all day, but it isn't going to change anything." Backed by his good friend Darryl Sittler, a former Toronto Maple Leafs forward and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, the HHDS has already been making strides in its first year, according to Furlane. It has raised more than $100,000 in support of the Halton Down Syndrome Association (HDSA) and the Ontario Down Syndrome Association to create opportunities in education, training, employment and housing initiatives in Halton communities for those with Down syndrome. On July 20, it hopes to continue the momentum with Sink One For Jake, a golf tournament to be held at Royal Ontario Golf Course in Hornby, Ont. Tickets cost $275 per golfer and include 18 Oakville's Jake Hardy with Darryl Sittler, a former Toronto Maple Leafs forward and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Together with Oakville's Grant Furlane, they are spearheading the fundraiser Sink One For Jake golf tournament, which benefits adults with Down syndrome. | submitted photo holes of championship golf with a cart, lunch and dinner, cocktail hour, prizes, silent auction, longest drive competition and a closest to the pin competition. The early bird deadline is April 20, and each month leading up to the event, a celebrity guest will be announced. "I understand that many of us have led great lives, met challenges, and with support groups around us, managed to overcome many obstacles on our way to success," said Sittler, HHDS board co-chair. "Children with Down syndrome have the same aspirations and require the same support groups to reach their goals." Furlane, co-chair of the HHDS board, said the event is more than just a fundraiser, but a way for people to learn more about the genetic disorder, the foundation and what it hopes to achieve. Stephen Kennedy Smith Jr. has been asked to deliver the keynote address at the dinner. His family's involvement with the special needs community dates to 1946 with the establishment of the Joseph P . Kennedy Foundation, which has significantly contributed to the care of those with special needs and aids in identifying and preventing the causes of intellectual disabilities. During the course of its evolution and operation, the foundation's work gave birth to the Special Olympics, with its inception in 1968 -- now an annual worldwide event. Furlane said the tournament is named after Jake Hardy, who was one of the inspirations for the Have a Heart for Down Syndrome. see Differently-abled on p.16 10%off All you can EAt Buffet (Lunch or Dinner Tues - Fri) staurant Sweets & Re at All You Can E n ia r a t e g e V % 0 10 t E f f u B a Weekday s Samo SpeCiaL LUNCH $1099 JUNIOR (3YR - 11YR) $8.99 KIds (2YR & Under) $ 2 /$1 DiNNeR $1199 From 11am-3pm From 5pm-9pm 2345 Trafalgar Road · 905-257-0808 Free Interlocking & Concrete Specialists Since 1967 upholstery & design · Pebble Concrete · Stamped Concrete · Interlocking · Flagstone · Walkways · Garage Floors · Patios · Driveways · Curbs (French) StiLL time to get your patio cuShionS recovered *Lots of Sunbrella outdoor fabrics to choose from Call Mario 905.842.7171 sunmarlandscape.com 1000's of designer fabrics to choose. 11-2345 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville · 905.616.3156 · www.baiers.ca