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Pinball Clemons joins a new team to help youths by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 7 | Friday, March 8, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Former Toronto Argonauts coach and player and Oakville resident Michael `Pinball' Clemons has found some new teammates in Oakville Toyota Scion and Lexus of Oakville. Clemons is working with the car dealerships to support local charities and children overseas. He was at the Oakville Toyota Scion dealership Saturday to launch the campaign as the new community spokesperson. "We want others to try to follow this model of focusing on your community and committing to your community. We can make our community more functional, make everybody feel more engaged and like they can have the life they desire," said Clemons. In the first year of the campaign, the aim is to donate a minimum $30,000 for the Michael Pinball Clemons Foundation (MPCF) to build up to four schools in Africa and aid Oakville charities. Clemons said about 60 per cent of the funds will remain in Oakville, while the rest will go to the build-a-school program. "We do have the ability to extend beyond Oakville, but we want to start here. We've started talking to a few people, but we don't want to say exactly what we want to do yet," said Clemons. Once relationships with local charities are established, more details on where the money is going and the schools' progress will be provided, Clemons said. The foundation committed to building 131 schools and classrooms over five years, but has already exceeded that goal. "We're in year three and we're already at 152 schools, about 60 of them are already built. Roughly 40 per cent of this money will go towards that project," he said. Clemons got involved because of Toyota's commitment to charity Mike "Pinball" Clemons was at Oakville Toyota Scion to champion the dealerships' new community charity campaign with Lexus of Oakville -- Buy a Car Build A School (BCBS). Here, Clemons plays around with Reinhard Jendrosch, 13, as Jendrosch's parents look at a new vehicle. photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Twitter @halton_photog) and philanthropy, he said, adding he's proud to be part of the team. "That is what really drove me to these guys. Sometimes you can wonder whether people are serious, but they've already had such a significant commitment to the community," said Clemons. "Now it's furthering that commitment." With the partnership, Clemons wants to help more youths in the community to help themselves, he said. The goal of the program is to give them "a hand up, not a handout." "Ultimately, they won't know where it came from, they will just be doing their thing, have more access, do better in school, be more engaged (and) have more self-confidence," said Clemons. The relationship between Clemons and the dealerships came to fruition earlier this year after 10 months of discussions, Oakville Toyota Scion and Lexus of Oakville president Frank Apa explained. "With Pinball, his commitment really is to his charity work . What really intrigued him about working with us is the fact we want to work with his foundation," said Apa. "Every time we sell a vehicle a donation is being made directly to Mike Pinball Clemons Foundation (MPCF)." The MPCF was founded in 2005 by Clemons and Natasha Borota. Based in Toronto, the charitable organization helps people struggling at home and abroad. With the foundation, Clemons said he's trying to do the best thing for those involved, not just a "good thing," adding the community does not get better until life for those who are most marginalized gets better. "We want to make sure we have a partner that we're going to start with, but over time we hope we have many partners in this community. This is a great, strong community. We want to do our share and help make it better." Like us on Chef Training Diploma BOOK YOUR TOUR TODAY www.liaisoncollegeoakville.com info@liaisoncollegeoakville.com #1 in Patios & Driveways! J.M.C Concrete Interlocking LTD · Free Estimates · 24 hour service · STAMPED CONCRETE · INTERLOCKING · EXPOSED AGGREGATE · FLAGSTONE · FRENCH CURBS · RETAINING WALLS · GARAGE FLOORS · FREE ESTIMATES 905-842-4336 for 905-878-8595 Ask John lImIted SpACe available for September 2013 UP TO ApplY noW At HSC, I Am leArnIng to be A leAder. Something as simple as a five-year-old helping a three-year-old with a coat can develop into the older student helping at community events. Early connections and experiences build the foundation of global citizenship. - Danielle Hourigan, Montessori School Vice Principal LIMITED TIME OFFER! *With Purchase of Prescription Lenses 50 OFF ALL FRAMES % * WWW.JMCCONCRETE.CA Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for students from M2 and PK to Grade 12. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca. We are accessible and affordable. Call Scott barton 905-389-1367 125 Cross Avenue, Oakville (Across from Home Depot) www.spaceoptical.ca 905-842-2821