When it is time to make dreams come true, Kelowna residents always give generously.
Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 Dreams for Kids Day will be held today in support of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada. The aim is to raise $50,000 to fund the trip of a lifetime for Okanagan kids living with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses.
It香蕉视频直播檚 a lofty one-day goal, but one that organizers are confident they香蕉视频直播檒l meet.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 by far the busiest day of the year 香蕉视频直播攊n fact, it香蕉视频直播檚 one of the busiest days for Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 in North America,香蕉视频直播� said Geoff Linquist, the president of the B.C. chain of Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 restaurants.
Linquist has been feverishly preparing for the event that sends one hundred per cent of the pizza sale proceeds for the day to Sunshine Dream Programs.
香蕉视频直播淲e actually bring some of our team members from the U.S., some from Vancouver and all hands on deck for all our staff in all our local stores,香蕉视频直播� Linquist said, adding that he香蕉视频直播檚 learned a lot in the three years since they香蕉视频直播檝e taken on the event.
香蕉视频直播淭he first year we didn香蕉视频直播檛 have a goal, we just didn香蕉视频直播檛 know what to expect and the community came out and supported it in a big way.香蕉视频直播�
It香蕉视频直播檚 understandable support, he said. The fundraiser, which was previously held by another restaurant chain, has been going for over 20 years in the Okanagan and it affects everyone involved.
香蕉视频直播淟ast year we met the families and the children going to Disneyland for the day at the airport,香蕉视频直播� he said, explaining that the event puts smiles on the kids, but also their whole families.
It香蕉视频直播檚 an emotional trip for those co-ordinating the event as well.
So much so, that the Orange County Sheriff香蕉视频直播檚 department, which escorts the Dream program participants in Disneyland, always sends representatives to the Okanagan for the event. There was one moment when they didn香蕉视频直播檛 think they香蕉视频直播檇 be participating anymore, but that香蕉视频直播檚 when Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 stepped in and it香蕉视频直播檚 continued on as business as usual.
Nancy Sutherland is the Sunshine Foundation香蕉视频直播檚 CEO said Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 involvement allowed the charity to complete one program and maintain a community presence.
香蕉视频直播淭his also drives a lot of awareness for Sunshine as a self-fund charity and these community initiatives and the funds raised are absolutely essential,香蕉视频直播� said Sutherland.
香蕉视频直播淭he kids have to be brave and trusting of people to look after them and so do their parents because it香蕉视频直播檚 hard to let a very vulnerable child with a lot of complex medical needs out of your sight. But because we have incredible partnerships with physicians and specialists who come on the plane, parents do give us their confidence and trust.香蕉视频直播�
Papa John香蕉视频直播檚 Pizza locations in Kelowna and West Kelowna will join locations in Kamloops, Penticton and Prince George in participating.
The event gets underway at 10 a.m.
