Our History: Easter Seals Prince Edward Island

Easter Seals Prince Edward Island Ambassadour Tour

Our Mission

The Easter Seals Society of PEI is committed to fully enhancing the quality of life, self esteem and self determination of Islanders with disabilities.

We Provide • Support for the needs and aspirations of children, youth, and adults with disabilities • Services and support to enable access, inclusion and opportunity to promote increased activity and involvement

We Support • • • • •

Fundraising Services Public and consumer education Research Increased awareness of disability issues

Our History: Easter Seals Canada Easter Seals in Canada has been helping individuals with disabilities and special needs, and their families, live better lives for more than 80 years. From child development centers to physical rehabilitation and job training for people with disabilities, Easter Seals offers a variety of services to help people with disabilities address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals.

Our History: Easter Seals Prince Edward Island 1960 saw the Charlottetown Rotary Club adopt The Easter Seals Society of PEI Campaign as a franchised project and has participated under a verbal agreement since 1956. In 1988 the Rotary clubs in Summerside and Montague were added to the franchise agreement. Easter Seals operates under a provincial committee comprised of the three Rotary clubs with one part-time paid coordinator.

Our Ambassadors • The Easter Seals Society of PEI Ambassador plays an important role in the annual campaign. The Ambassador is always a young person with a disability. The Ambassador appears live in news broadcasts, appears in promotions, visits all schools on the tour, attends the Easter Beef Show and Sale Banquet, the Kick-off and Wrap-up meetings of the Charlottetown Rotary Club and other events as they arise from year to year. • The following is a listing of our Easter Seals Society of PEI Ambassadors and the year they served. The Ambassadors are local children, living with a disability, who represent all the children of our Island helped by Easter Seals. Being an Ambassador provides the child a rewarding opportunity to serve their community, develop confidence in public speaking, and leadership skills.

Our Ambassadors of the Past 2011 Hannah MacLellan 1988 Jeffrey Palmer 1987 Justin Lewis 2010 Colton Matheson 1986 Nella Anne Kennedy 2009 Jordon Cotton 1985 Mark MacIntosh 2008 Sonja Walker 1984 Debbie Gallant 2007 Anthony Comeau 1983 Tommy Crozier 2006 Carlee Lynch 1982 Sherry McGuire 2005 Carolyn Gallant 1981 Shelley Gass 2004 Emily Sewuster 1980 Michael Morrison 2003 Joel Watts 2002 Shannese MacKinnon 1979 Heidi MacDonald 2001 Shane Doucette 1978 Sandra MacKay 2000 Jennifer Coughlin 1977 Bernie Wilson th 2012 Ambassador to be announced February 6 1999 Jeremy MacDonald 1976 Andria Murray 1998 Gillian Carr 1975 Darren Whitlock 1997 Scott Birt 1974 Garfield MacLean 1996 Joey Arsenault 1973 Cindy Steele 1995 Jenny MacDonald 1972 Terry Gaudet 1994 Taylor Carver 1971 Reggie MacGough 1993 Charlotte Killorn 1970 Leonard Joseph 1992 Ben Constable MacDonald 1991 Candice MacDonald 1969 Jeff Hopkinson 1990 Darcy MacPherson 1968 Alan Gamble 1989 Jennifer MacEachern 1967 Judy Arsenault

55 years

1966 Jeff Hopkinson 1965 Velda Paynter 1964 Sidney Blackett 1963 Karen Newson 1962 Vincent Court 1961 Maurice Perry 1960 Deborah Gallant 1959 Jimmy Schurman 1958 Richard Montigny 1957 Paul Hennessey

at Charlottetown Rotary

Our Projects For more than 55 years Easter Seals Society of PEI Campaigns have been a great success because of the generosity of Islanders. Over the past 25 years, other fund-raising projects conducted as part of the Easter Seals Campaign have been: Tim Hortons School Tour, CBC Telethon; Parade of Supporters Corporate Donations; Paper Egg Sales; Golf Tournaments; Banana Split Day at Dairy Queen; Bacon Burgers at Burger King; Tuna Challenge, Motorcycle Rally; Dooley's Pool Tournament; Brunches; Variety Concerts; Pancake Breakfast; Premier’s Breakfast; Kick-off Breakfasts in Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague; Imperial Oil’s Thankful Tankful; Snowaramas; Wheelchair Basketball Tournament; Easter Seals Pace; The Anna McGoldrick Evening; and, Hockey Games, sometimes involving RCMP & City Police forces, sometimes even politicians and many other events.

Where Does the Money Go? • The money raised by Islanders for Islanders are used to help children and adults here on PEI. • Easter Seals Society of PEI Campaigns have raised more than $3 million in the past 55 years. • Virtually every cent raised has been put back into the community to assist fellow Islanders with disabilities. • Funds are donated to organizations that assist them, not to individuals

How is the Money Distributed? It is split between the clubs based on geographical location and population. Currently 50% is allocated to Charlottetown and 30% to Summerside with 20% to the Montague club. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Camp Gencheff (in the earlier years, contributions were made to the Camp through the Polio Foundation of Prince Edward Island) Rehabilitation Council of PEl Education Coalition Joy Riders PEI Cerebral Palsy Association Stars for Life Foundation for Autism Glen Stewart Greater Grounds Canadian Association for the Disabled Skiers for specialized equipment Charlottetown Area Recreation Inc. for a pool lift for persons with disabilities Queen Elizabeth Hospital Physical Medicine Department for specialized equipment PEl Recreation and Sports Association for the Disabled for a sports wheelchair PEl Council of People with Disabilities Sherwood-Parkdale Head Start PEl Special Olympics Tremploy Physically-challenged high school students who receive scholarships to study at post-secondary institutions.

Just Kids? • No. The Easter Seals Society of PEI is committed to helping children AND adults with physical and mental disabilities and special needs resulting from any cause.

The Easter Seals Ambassador Tour! Provides help, hope and answers to Islanders living with disabilities and the families who love them. Assist in providing: – Exceptional services – Education – Outreach – Advocacy