Cops for Kids clarifies
By Contributor
Const. Dirk Finkensiep and Const. Wally Bursey, of Castlegar, are the only two Mounties in the West Kootenay raising funds for Cops for Kids this year … funds which benefit children throughout the West Kootenay. Recently, reports have been made regarding telephone solicitations “to sponsor a child with Cops for Kids”. Rightly so, the people receiving these calls have questioned the authenticity of the request for money.
There are ongoing telemarketers working on behalf of the Police Association of Ontario who make calls to collect funds for a program run out of Ontario with a similar name. A quick search on the Internet via Google brings a number of pages with more information. This, however, is NOT the Cops for Kids for which local Mounties are fundraising.
The Cops for Kids Foundation is a B.C.-based charity raising money for local communities. They do so with a number of fundraising techniques: barbecues, golf tournaments, silent auctions, etc. They do not solicit funds via the telephone (unless they have a personal relationship with you or your business). If you should wish to make a donation to our local Cops for Kids, you may do so via the Castlegar RCMP detachment or online at www.copsforkids.org and follow the links for donations.
Cops for Kids also does not work on a “sponsorship” system. The Cops for Kids Charitable Foundation provides limited, short-term financial assistance for children in need and their families. All applications are reviewed for eligibility by the Cops for Kids Grants Committee which meets once a month to review all applications that have been received. Funding awards are based on numerous criteria. Grant applications and critieria can also be found on the Cops for Kids website (which will shortly be “new and improved” thanks to wonderful volunteers).
The next fundraising event will be in Castlegar at our annual M&M Meat Shops barbecue held on Aug. 8. All proceeds to Cops for Kids, and Cst Bursey and Cst Finkensiep will be there grilling in their traditional Red Serge … bring your camera and come get your picture taken for a donation.
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