Guardian Angel gala raises record $156,000

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From camp to college, area children are about to benefit from record support via the The Children’s Foundation’s annual Guardian Angel Gala.
Held Saturday at Belleville’s Avaya building on Sidney Street, the 18th-annual gala raised $156,000.
“We are once again amazed and humbled by the tremendous support of the community for our endeavours,” gala chairperson Aleesha Camp stated in a press release.
The foundation is the charitable branch of the Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society (CAS) but has programs available to all youth, not only those in the society’s care. It serves those in Hastings, Northumberland and Prince Edward Counties.
The gala’s prior record, set last year, was $132,000, executive director Connie Reid said.
This year’s recipient of the Guardian Angel Award for Philanthropic Leadership was Kristin Crowe, a Belleville business owner who has supported numerous local charities.
“I am over-the-top honoured,” Crowe said afterward.
“The Children’s Foundation is an incredible organization that does so much good for so many of our children and youth and gives children opportunities that they may not otherwise have.”
Foundation chairperson Sam Brady stated in a press release both the community and the foundation are “so fortunate to have charitably-minded and positive leaders like Kristin Crowe as supporters.
“Kristin’s popularity is evident in the amazing results achieved and success of our Angel Gala,” Brady stated, crediting volunteers, staff and donors for their work.
The night’s guest speaker was Zack Jessup, a recipient of CAS care and three foundation bursaries. Born in Belleville, he’s now in university and about to turn 24.
“I couldn’t be where I am without any of the people here tonight and the generosity they have bestowed,” he told the crowd.
He said he endured “mental and physical abuse” in childhood and the society became involved in his life starting when he was about eight. Jessup said he’s seen both good and bad aspects of the Children’s Aid system.

He entered society foster care at 15, but continued to struggle, in part because of what he called a “toxic environment” in a “turbulent” foster home.
“At the age of 18 I was homeless, addicted to drugs and going nowhere fast,” he said in Saturday’s speech.
He was also selling drugs, he said in an interview.
But around the same time, a society worker named Wayne (surname withheld) helped him stop his decline.
“I was fighting to stay alive. He came into my life and turned it around,” said Jessup, calling Wayne “the reason I want to be a social worker.”
“He was there for me.”
Jessup said he’d known throughout his life he had the potential to rise above his situation and succeed.
“Kids in CAS care are inevitably going to be resilient,” he said, adding resilience is “the main trait it takes to be successful.”
“The public should know we’re just like any other kid – we just might have seen a lot more than those others kids.
“We’re more likely to be the best at what we do.”
He encouraged Saturday’s audience to understand “how much potential every young person you support has to succeed.”
Jessup has since earned a diploma in Loyalist College’s social service worker program, where he was on the dean’s list. He’s now in the second year of a bachelor’s degree social work program at Trent University in Peterborough and said he wants to work for the society.
“I’m excited to get into CAS as a caseworker, change some kids’ lives, or at least better them. My goal is to get into the system and be what I needed at their age.
“I’m seen the wrong way to be a service worker and I’ve seen the right way.
“I want to emulate some of the positive examples I’ve seen.”
Jessup said life isn’t easy but he knows he’s making progress.
“Being in school, you learn things like toilet paper isn’t an infinite commodity and Kraft Dinner isn’t free,” he said.
Not long after he started university, Jessup said, he was having difficulties. But the foundation and its executive director have helped him to remain in school.
“Having The Children’s Foundation and CAS’s support, I’m able to have the opportunity to be able to focus on my schooling,” he said.
“The help they’ve given me this semester was honestly the difference between taking a step forward and taking a step back,” he said. Jessup said he wouldn’t be able to afford his university tuition, food or gasoline without that help.
Guardian Angel Kristin Crowe said Jessup delivered “a powerful message.”
“It helps me to realize where the money that we donate and the things we do are really making a difference in children’s lives,” she said.
“We live in a world of uncertainty. The entire world could use more kindness and love,” said Crowe.
Reid said the gala allows such work to continue.
“Last year we gave out over 50 bursaries, over 60 youth awards,” she said.
Bursaries for education range from $1,000 to $1,500. Youth awards of $50 are given to students in junior kindergarten through Grade 12.
Playing for Keeps grants of as much as $500 per year let children take part in the arts, sports and other activities, and camping grants of as much as $400 help hundreds of children each year.
Helping Hands provides support for young mothers.
“We fill in the gaps,” Reid explained. She said some recipients are “financially struggling… with no affiliation with CAS whatsoever.”
“They just need a little help to make sure their kids are still involved in activities.”
Reid said 352 people attended the gala.
“We’ve been sold out for, like, a month,” Reid said in an earlier interview.
“I actually had people calling me before the invitations went out. I had people calling me to sponsor (the event) before I had the sponsorship challenge.” Belleville’s Impacto Protective Products Inc. was the title sponsor.
Visit thechildrensfoundation.ca or call 613-962-9292 for details. Donations may also be sent to the office 363 Dundas St. W., Belleville, Ont. K8P 1B3.