Published July 10, 2015 20:22
20th annual Brian Smith Memorial Golf Tournament tees off on July 14 to support the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa’s (BGCO) Camp Smitty
Tournament has raised nearly $2 million (net) to send more than 2,600 children and youth to summer camp
July 10, 2015 – Ottawa, ON – As the city sidewalks continue to heat up and the humidity swells the Ottawa air, many local children are all packed up and headed to summer camp. However, not every child can afford to go to camp. For many families, the cost puts the summer camp experience out of reach for their children. For the past 19 years, the Brian Smith Memorial Golf Tournament has been changing that. Since the tournament began in 1996, it has raised nearly $2 million (net) -- enough to send more than 2,400 Ottawa-area youth to Camp Smitty, a residential camp operated by the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.
This year, 332 golfers are gearing up for the 20th annual tournament which takes place at The Marshes at Brookstreet, Marchwood Golf Course and Eagle Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, July 14. As it is every year, the goal is to raise money to send even more deserving kids to Camp Smitty.
The camp, located near Eganville, ON, was founded in 1924 as Camp Minwassin. Today, the Camp remains open to all boys and girls aged eight to 15 years of age who are ready for the physical and social dynamics of a 10-day residential camping program.
In 2001, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa paid tribute to one of Camp Minwassin’s standout campers, Brian Smith, and renamed the property “Camp Smitty”. Smith spent many years at the camp, first as a camper – winning both the Best Athlete and the Most Courteous Camper awards – and later as a counsellor. As an adult, Smith continued to support the BGCO and other charities while pursuing his career as an NHL player and afterwards with CTV Ottawa. In 1995, tragedy struck when Smith was killed while leaving the CTV studios on his way to speak at a Children’s Wish Foundation event.
The memorial golf tournament recognizes Smith’s impact on the Club and the region while also raising funds to help Ottawa youth attend Camp Smitty.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support that the Brian Smith Memorial Golf Tournament provides each year for local campers,” says Colleen Mooney, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa. “Funds raised from this tournament have introduced summer camp to a whole generation of kids and youth who may not have otherwise had the chance to get away from the city.”
For more information on Camp Smitty, visit www.campsmitty.com. For more information on the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, visit www.bgcottawa.org.
About the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa
Serving the Ottawa area since 1923, the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is a leader in after-school, weekend and summer programs for children and youth aged six to 18 years. Each year, through its eight locations throughout the city, the Club offers approximately 4,500 children and youth access to a supportive place where they can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. The Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa is a registered charity (# 118814565 RR0001).
For more information about the golf tournament, contact: Jim Cain (tel: 613-656-5206; email: jimcain@rogers.com or Joe Zadzora (tel: 613-725-4516; email: jzadzora@coughlin.ca). You can also visit www.briansmithgolf.com.
Julie Hawrishok | Marketing and Communications Officer, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa | jhawrishok@bgcottawa.org | Phone: 613-232-0925 Ext. 224
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