Woo-hoo! Joshua and Connor! (12 photos)

NEWS RELEASE

ROTARY CLUB OF SAULT STE. MARIE

**************************** Skate and Swim brings in nearly $70,000! Two kids raise over $4,000! SAULT STE. MARIE - The Bell Celebrity Skate and Swim in support of Rotary Youth Projects presented by Cross Country Automotive Services raised $66,700 this year, growing by nearly 11percent form 2010.

But $4,000 of that is particularly special. In these rough economic times, especially during this financially tight time of year, $4,000 is an attractive sum.

To many, it would be a very attractive monthly income.

To a non-profit organization, it is a tremendous donation; outstandingly so when it is raised by two kids. Joshua Hales-Leppanen (pictured) and Connor Zanini, both part of the Soo Peewee Atom C Division, collectively raised over $4,000 in pledges for the event, commonly referred to as ‘The Skate’.

The skate itself features three hours of fun skating and swimming, as well as face-to-face time with local celebrities, the Soo Greyhounds.

In order to take part, participants must amass $25 in registration fees, but there is a lot of motivation to raise more.

This year’s top individual prize winners include: Joshua Hales-Leppanen, winning the Xbox with Kinect, followed by Connor Zanini, who won a Wii; and third was Joshua Ratcliff, who won a bicycle.

Other prizes won include two Detroit Red Wings tickets, a dozen Soo Greyhounds autographed baseball caps, an Soo Greyhounds autographed jersey, five Roots watches, a hockey helmet, a hockey bag, a Bell laptop bag, and eight Bell packs.

All participants that raised over $120 also received a free Galaxy Cinemas pass. Youth groups, classes, organizations, or teams of five or more have even more motivation to participate, receiving 50 percent of monies they raise back.

Also, groups that collect $500 or more automatically win a free bowling and pizza party at Churchill Lanes.

Additionally, there are also two free swimming parties and pizza parties to be won: one for the top fundraising hockey team, as well as one for the top fundraising non-hockey team.

The top fundraising teams for 2011 will be notified via telephone. The event raises funds for Rotary Youth Projects, which include Easter Seals, the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre - Algoma, Student Youth Exchange, as well as the Rotary Regional Science Fair.

It was for this reason that Connor managed to raise $1,800.

Christine Zanini, the mother of Connor, explains: “Dressed in his team jacket, he would knock on the door, introduce himself, and explain that he was raising money for ‘Rotary kids’ and his hockey team. Out of all the houses we went to, only 10 said no.”

A cheery demeanor and glistening blue eyes may have helped his efforts, but it was hard work and parental support that really made this technique a success.

Heading out to collect pledges virtually daily, Christine estimates that they raised $75 per hour - an hourly income no professional would shy at. Joshua Hales-Leppanen and Joshua Ratcliff raised $2,239 and $1,170 respectively, and could not be reached for comment do to extreme excitement, bragging rights, and pride at a job well done. Rotary would like to thank all of the participants, managers, coaches, teachers, parents, sponsors and volunteers that made this night the most successful Skate and Swim in the event’s 15 year history.

Fantastic work everyone!

****************************