Five Counties Children’s Centre is celebrating a big win after the Peterborough Petes and its fans scored a record-breaking amount for kids’ treatment services through a recent hockey fundraiser.
The “Next Gen Game with Petes” last Monday (February 19) at the Peterborough Memorial Centre raised $21,341 for Five Counties Children’s Centre. The total is the largest amount ever fundraised since the Ontario Hockey League team and Five Counties teamed up for the annual Family Day hockey game several years ago.
This year’s game was another sellout, and saw money come in for Five Counties through donations, corporate sponsorships, sales, and proceeds from a silent auction.
Bill Eekhof, spokesperson for Five Counties Children’s Centre, told kawarthaNOW “a number of factors” contributed to the impressive amount generated through the 2024 instalment of the fundraiser.
“Petes fans were very generous, both in making donations at the game and bidding on items in our silent auction,” Eekhof said.
“Five Counties is also grateful for enhanced corporate sponsorships for the event. In the end, it all adds up to more funds to help support more treatment for kids and reduce wait times for services.”
The money raised will go directly towards the centre’s “Building Abilities For Life” campaign that supports high-demand treatment services at Five Counties.
“Through these funds, we can help to reduce wait times and ensure more children and families get access to the care they need when they need it,” said Scott Pepin, CEO of Five Counties Children’s Centre, in a media release.
“We are so grateful to the Petes, their fans and our other supporters for again showing their support for Five Counties kids.”
In addition to raising money, Pepin said the Next Gen Game with the Petes also lifted the spirits of eight Five Counties kids who enjoyed a behind-the-scenes experience at the game. The children who took part “signed’ a one one-day contract with the Petes, and then took on roles as general manager coach, scout, PA announcer and more.
“The smiles on our kids’ faces lit up the Memorial Centre,” Pepin said. “The Petes were first-rate in creating the Next Gen opportunity, and we heard many good comments and compliments from the kids and their families about their experiences behind the scenes.”
The event also included a pre-game family skate. Many Five Counties kids and families were in attendance as well to cheer on the Petes, while centre staff and volunteers helped organize fundraising events before, during and after the game, Five Counties noted.
“Every year this event continues to grow,” said Eric Ebenbauer, director of sales for the Petes, in the release.
“It’s a great opportunity for families to come out and enjoy their Family Day while supporting other kids in our community. We look forward to continuing this tradition and engaging with Five Counties clients for future Next Gen programs, which was presented by Tim Hortons this year.”
Eekhof said corporate support was integral to the fundraiser’s success, and included the backing from Waste Connections of Canada, which was Five Counties’ lead sponsor for the event overall.
Five Counties Children’s Centre provides speech, physio, and occupational therapies, as well as other treatment services for kids and youth from birth to age 19 years in the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
This past year, Five Counties served more than 6,200 children and youth in its region — the highest number of clients in its nearly 50-year history.
For more information about Five Counties Children’s Centre, visit fivecounties.on.ca.
