14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 14, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: angela@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2007 Eliminating the barriers to education I quit football in Grade 9. The quarterback for the Damon Allen, Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts Quarterback Toronto Argonauts would not hold the record for all-time passing yards. He wouldn't have won four Grey Cups, or been named the CFL's dents in need through nutrition programs, scholarships, literacy Most Outstanding Player in 2005. "I wouldn't be standing here programs and more. "Our goal tonight is to impact today if it wasn't for that coach who the lives of young people," Allen said, `You know what Damon? You can do it,'" Allen told a crowd of said. "We want to direct them the more than 400 at the Oakville right way, we want to encourage Conference Centre Thursday night. them that they can be all they want "It was my first year of high to be." Thursday's focus and the recipschool. I had self doubt. I thought ient of all funds raised was the I was too small." The long-time Oakville resident foundation's Eliminating Barriers used his story as an example of the Fund. "It's a program to support disimpact encouragement can have advantaged students," said chair of on young kids at the Halton Learning Foundation's celebration the foundation and retired princiand fundraising dinner, where he pal, Susan Busby. "The program is designed to was guest speaker. help students who need food, The event recognized supporters of the foundation, a charitable clothing, bus passes, school suporganization that supports stu- plies, things like that." "If it's not us, then who? If it's not now, then when? We can f a coach had never convinced all make a difference with this him he was big enough to foundation. We can all make play, Damon Allen would have an impact on a young life." DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER GIFT TO KIDS: RBC Royal Bank presents $30,000 to the Halton Learning Foundation. From left, Gord Fielding, RBC; Gillian Tuck, Halton District School Board chair; Wayne Joudrie, Halton District School Board Director of Education; and, Gerry Purcell, past chair of the Halton Learning Foundation. Last year, Eliminating Barriers assisted 350 students. Already this year, more than 300 students have received support. These are kids who may sit in class unable to concentrate because they're hungry, or worrying how they'll get home without a bus pass, Busby said. "Thank you for the positive difference so many of you are making for individual children who find themselves in this situation," she told supporters. Halton District School Board Director of Education Wayne Joudrie applauded the turnout of supporters, and said the large crowd was a testament to the Foundation's work. "I couldn't be more proud of our community," he said. Joudrie noted the Eliminating Barriers program "was a concept, an idea," at first. "Since then, hundreds of our students have been helped up by your generosity." Last year, $170,000 was raised for the Barriers program. During the 2006-2007 school year, the foundation fundraised more than $450,000 for its programs, which include scholarships, enrichment funds in arts, music, technology, the environment and health. Royal Bank of Canada has had a hand in that fundraising. For the second time in as many years, RBC presented the Halton Learning Foundation with a $30,000 cheque to support students in the region. "We hope this donation tonight will perhaps allow some students to stay in school," said RBC's Gord Fielding, after presenting the cheque to foundation representatives. As Busby stressed, donations like this will help the more than 10,000 children in Halton, who are living in poverty. "People often don't believe that poverty is here especially in Oakville, but it is," she said. "In every school in Halton, there are kids who need help." DAVID A. GILMOUR / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER GIFT OF SUPPORT: Damon Allen, quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts, acknowledges the gift of student art work presented to him by The Halton Learning Foundation. Allen was keynote speaker at the organization's fourth annual celebration dinner. Principals determine which of their students are in need of the foundation's assistance, and the money is allocated to schools that way, Busby said. "When you're a teacher or a principal, you know there are kids who are suffering, who need help," she said. "You know who those kids are." And when it comes to where that help comes from, Allen quoted Toronto Argonaut coach Michael `Pinball' Clemons to stress that each person must continue to do their part. "If it's not us, then who? If it's not now, then when?" he asked. "We can all make a difference with this foundation. We can all make an impact on a young life. "Education is the most fundamental aspect of human life," Allen continued. "We have a foundation here that if ever a child with barriers in life is in need, it allows him an opportunity to do something more. It's what we must do. We must continue to encourage." TAIZÉ A pilgrimage of trust in God COME AND PRAY WITH US ... It's sometimes difficult for us in our busy work-a-day lives to take time out and to create a place and a space to draw near to God in prayer. St. Aidan's is pleased to offer monthly Taizé Night Prayer Services using the songs and prayers from the Taizé Community. Please join us in the stillness of a candlelit hour, the third Friday of every month beginning at 7:30 pm. NEXT SETTING FRIDAY, November 23, 2007. For more information please contact the Reverend Cheryl Lynn Fricker staidanschurch@bellnet.ca 318 Queen Mary Drive, Oakville L8S 3R3 St. Aidan's Anglican Church 905-845-6111