In 2008, the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation will be supporting a total of eight local charities through a new, three-tier system. The following is a breakdown of the new tier system:

Tier One
Comprised of a single, larger charity, the organization selected for this level will receive $50,000. In 2008, the Tier One charity is the Ottawa Senators Foundation’s charity of choice, Roger’s House.

Tier Two
A total of $25,000 will be disbursed to each of the three charities selected at this level. A joint application from two groups will mean that there are four organizations in this tier for 2008, they are: Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, OCRI School Breakfast Program, Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario and Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Program.

Tier Three
The three charities at this level will each receive $10,000. In 2008, those charities are: Algonquin College Foundation, Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre, and the Good Day Workshop.

Brief descriptions of all of our participating charities are presented here, but we invite you to learn more about each of these worthy organizations by visiting their websites or contacting them directly.


Founded in 1998, the Sens Foundation utilizes the unique resources of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of children and youth in the eastern Ontario and western Quebec. Since inception, the Sens Foundation, together with the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, alumni, corporate partners and fans have raised and contributed nearly $50 million to a variety of community initiatives.

The charity of choice of the Sens Foundation is Roger's House, an eight-bed pediatric palliative and respite care home located on the grounds of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. In addition to its commitment to Roger’s House, the Sens Foundation is proud to make a direct impact in the lives of so many each year. During the 2006-07 hockey season, the foundation provided $1,285,000 of financial support to 56 charitable organizations.

To learn more about the Ottawa Senators Foundation and Roger’s House please visit: www.sensfoundation.com



As the largest provider of specialized mental health clinical, community outreach and research services east of Toronto, the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group treats the most severely ill and provides hope to the 1 in 5 patients and their families affected by mental illness. The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health raises funds to support the best possible patient care, comfort and leading edge research to improve their lives.

The Jennie James Depression Research Fund is an example of the Foundation's work with one family. In 2006, shortly after losing his daughter Jennie to suicide, Ben James approached the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health with sadness and generosity in his heart to establish a special fund in her honour. Proceeds from the Dragon Boat Foundation will support Jennie’s fund and ensure leading edge depression research for years to come. 'If we can play a part in reducing the incidence of suicide in any way, we will have left a tremendous legacy of Jennie's life." Ben James, Jennie's father.

Further information on the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health can be found on their website: www.rohcg.on.ca/foundation/index-e.cfm or by contacting Tracey Welsh, Development Coordinator at (613) 722-6521 ext. 6527 or e-mail tracey.welsh@rohcg.on.ca.



The OCRI School Breakfast Program is a partnership of 14 organizations with the goal of ensuring that all children have the opportunity to start each school day with a healthy breakfast so they are ready to learn and succeed at school. Without the program 8,880 children in 132 schools would go to school hungry each day in Ottawa. When a child has had an opportunity to eat a healthy breakfast they have fewer attendance and discipline problems and their ability to achieve success in school increases dramatically. A well-fed child has greater self-esteem and has the energy they need to be a full participant during the school day.

For more information on the OCRI School Breakfast Program please contact Christine Lauzon-Foley at (613) 828-6274 ext. 277 or e-mail clauzon-foley@ocri.ca or visit us at www.ocri.ca/schoolbreakfastprogram/



Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Programs is a local not-for-profit organization that enriches the lives of children and families coping with childhood cancer. Through the provision of Support Services, Financial Assistance and CyberKids, Candlelighters has a real and tangible impact in their lives, every step of the way. Candlelighters ~ Where there’s light, there’s hope.

For more information on the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Support Programs please visit the website at www.candlelighters.net or e-mail information@candlelighters.net or phone (613) 715 9157.



Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) is the representative voice of Ontario’s childhood cancer community and a leader in the childhood cancer arena. It is a collaboration of 5 specialty pediatric oncology hospitals, community hospitals and services, healthcare professionals, survivors, families of children who have had cancer, corporate/private benefactors and volunteers. POGO continually drives improvements to the care of children with cancer, provides support to their families, helps allocate health resources, develops innovative research programs, and provides professional education. Founded in 1983, POGO has built a reputation for recommendations based on solid provincial data, scientific evidence, and significant clinical experience. POGO is the official advisor to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care on childhood cancer care and control.

For more information on POGO and their programs visit www.pogo.ca.



The Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre Foundation raises funds to benefit the children who are clients of OCTC. We support recreation and leisure programs, adapted transportation, sensory therapy, purchase of mobility and voice output equipment, research and other needs. The Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre (OCTC) helps kids and teens with disabilities get around, learn and communicate. OCTC provides specialized care and services for 3,000 children and youth annually. Our clients range from birth to age 19. They have complex physical and developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy, developmental delays, brain injury, spina bifida, speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities.

To learn more about the OCTC Foundation please contact Pat Shapiro at (613) 738-4336 or (613) 738-4335 or e-mail pshapiro@octc.ca or visit the OCTC website at www.octc.ca and click on Foundation.



Good Day Workshop Programs Inc. welcomes people who are unemployed because of problems related to addiction, homelessness, mental or physical disability, and teaches them to repair and refinish furniture. The Program provides a productive and supportive work experience, skills training and social contact for both men and women and it enables them to become more holistically healthy, happy, and perhaps employable persons by working and socializing with peers, staff and customers and by sharing old and learning new skills of furniture refinishing, repairing, upholstering and caning.

More information on the Good Day Workshop can be found at www.gooddayworkshop.org or by e-mailing gdw@magma.ca or calling (613) 236-4979.



Established in 1967, Algonquin College has earned a reputation as being one of the leading educational institutions in the country. The Algonquin College Foundation proudly reaches out to individuals, corporations, associations and community groups to invite them to lay stepping stones for this generation and those to come. Donors generously contribute towards student bursaries, scholarships, awards, educational equipment and facility enhancements. Donations support over 140 programs taught across three College campuses and attended by 16,000 students in Ottawa, Perth and Pembroke.

For further information on the Algonquin College Foundation please contact Graham Thompson at (613) 727-4723 ext 5496 or thompsg@algonquincollege.com or visit us at www.algonquincollege.com/foundation/