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On Monday, December 14^th the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre (ARTC) hosted the grand opening of their new building. ARTC provides physical and recreational therapy for disabled adults (e.g. stroke and accident victims). This new location will allow them to better serve our community.

This move was made possible in part by a $250,000 donation by the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise, which is the realization of a long-term fundraising goal of the club. This project was started by Rick Bullas and was completed in his memory. Rick Bullas was a found member of Sunrise Rotary and had a vision of the club creating a recreational centre that would serve seniors. The Club was proud to fulfil his vision.

(From left to right: Reg Schram (Architect and major donor to the project), Joe Persia (President of ARTC and Sunrise Rotarian), Ginny Bullas (Sunrise Rotarian and widow of Rick Bullas), Lori Santilli (ED of ARTC), Jeff Noble( Board Member Sunrise Rotary) and Kevin Davis (President of Sunrise Rotary)

Together over five years, The Rick Bullas Charity Golf Tournament and major fundraisers by Sunrise Rotary, like Trip of the Month, $250,000 was raised to assist in fulfilling Rick’s vision of a senior’s activity centre in Brantford and to help the Adult Recreation Therapy Center find a new home.

The Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise couldn’t be more proud to make this major contribution to a vital organization like ARTC to ensure they continue to thrive and it was wonderful to see the building become a reality.

Skid Row to CEO - Joe Roberts Speaks at Sunrise Rotary

Joe Roberts from the Push to Change Foundation attended the Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise September 9th. Joe tells a compelling story of his transformation from a Vancouver East side heroin addict, living out of a grocery cart, to MacLeans top 10 CEO. Next year he will be doing a Cross-Canada walk pushing a grocery cart in support of his Foundation, which assists street kids in making the same transformation as his.

From Joe's Wikipedia:

After having earned two sales and marketing diplomas in Ontario, Joe Roberts moved back to Vancouver in 1996 and accepted a position with Mindware Designs Communications in 1997. Joe Roberts led Mindware Design Communications to an 800% increase in business in less than four years, and the company now employs 15 people with Roberts as president and CEO. According to his partner and Mindware founder, Dr. Pesi A. Unwalla, it was Roberts's energy which drove the company's success over the past six years.[5] "I transferred a lot of the skills I learned from hustling on the street and applied them to business," Roberts said in an interview with the Vancouver Province newspaper. "I'm very persistent and determined. I know how to take it on the chin to get things done."

Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise donates $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa.

Brantford Sunrise Rotary donates $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa.

Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise donates $4,000 to Canadian Nurses for Africa. President Kevin and Joanne presenting the cheque to Jean and Gail. Below is some background from CNFA (Canadian Nurses for Africa)

"CNFA is a nurse-led volunteer organization empowering nurses to use their highly developed skills and knowledge in a field setting. We conduct medical missions to Kenya where we partner with Kenyan medical personnel and community workers. We treat a wide range of illnesses, with malaria and upper respiratory problems being the most frequent. We also treat many wounds and do point-of-care diabetes testing. Along with our daily clinics, we conduct sexual health education classes for men, women and students, deworming programs in schools, a jiggers eradication program and finance the building of school latrines. We also provide hospital care for the acutely ill that are seen at our clinics."

To learn more about the CNFA please visit http://www.canadiannursesforafrica.ca/

$35,000 Pledge to Save The Evidence

Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise Pledges $35,000 to 'Save The Evidence'

Rotarians from Brantford’s Wednesday morning Sunrise Club are backing the #SaveTheEvidence campaign in a major way. The club is pledging $35,000* to be released in stages towards the repair of the roof and the repurposing of The Mohawk Institute as a museum.

The Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School at 184 Mohawk Street operated in Brantford from 1827 until 1970 as one of over 130 Indian Residential Schools operating in Canada. Less than 10 stand today.

The message to the community is clear: turning this place from what it was in the past, an instrument furthering a policy of cultural genocide, into a national museum of consciousness, is a worthy cause. The repurposing of this building into a national museum will help Canadians understand a regrettable part of our history, while at the same time honouring the students who attended the institute. It also recognizes that reconciliation is not possible without understanding the truth behind the history of the Mohawk Institute.

“One of Rotary’s areas of focus is to promote peace and conflict resolution,” said Rotary Club of Brantford- Sunrise President Kevin Davis. “It is rare that we have an opportunity to work towards this goal so close to home.”

“We hope other service clubs and members of the community join with us and contribute as well,” Davis continued. “This is a way to come together and repair and restore both this building and our the relationships between First Nations communities and more broadly Canadians across the country.”

* A portion of this contribution is conditional upon approval from the OLG and City of Brantford Lottery Licensing Office.

Standing Tall Against Domestic Violence

What an incredible morning! The 5th Annual Men in Heels was a HUGE success!! Setting a new record with over $43,000 raised for Nova Vita!!

We couldn't be more proud to stand tall against domestic violence with our fellow Sunrise Rotarians in an ocean of Rotary blue and gold! In less than a month we put together a team of more than 20 walkers and took second place in the team division raising more than $8000!! Not bad for our first year as a team... imagine what we can put together next year!

A very special mention to our Club President Kevin Davis. Not only did Kevin win the Mr. Congeniality Award but was also responsible for almost $4000 of our team's total. You went hard Mr. President and you set the bar for next year!

Sunrise Rotary club donates $250,000 to ARTC

Sunrise Rotary Club Donates $250,000

An outstanding article from Vincent Ball of the Brantford Expositor! Local media standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our club is a pretty amazing thing!

From the article... "The Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise made a huge contribution Wednesday to a facility that will improve the lives of local seniors. The club is donating $250,000 to the Adult Recreation Therapy Centre's new home, which is scheduled to open in the fall at 58 Easton Rd. The donation was announced at the club's Wednesday morning breakfast meeting at the Brantford Golf and Country Club."

"Most of the money for the club's donation to the centre's new facility was raised through an annual charity golf tournament named after Rick Bullas. A founding member of Sunrise Rotary, Bullas had a vision of the club creating a recreational centre that would serve seniors and the larger community. A past president of Sunrise Rotary, Bullas served as an assistant district governor and was a two-time Paul Harris Fellow, an award of distinction given to Rotarians for their service above self to the community. He was also a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces who established his own business following his military service.Bullas died in 2009 and since then the club's membership has worked to fulfil his vision."

vincent.ball@sunmedia.ca
twitter.com/EXPVBall
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