ONPARA Launches 2021 GivingTuesday Campaign
Help make an impact in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities by supporting our ‘Bridging the Gap’ program this GivingTuesday
The giving season is upon us, and the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) will once again be participating in GivingTuesday – the world’s largest generosity movement, taking place each year after Black Friday.
ONPARA’s theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Making an Impact’ – highlighting the impact that participation in sport has made on our athletes, the impact that our ‘Bridging the Gap’ program makes on individuals and communities across Ontario, as well as the impact that support during GivingTuesday has on our organization.
For the third consecutive year, funds raised during GivingTuesday will benefit ‘Bridging the Gap’, our flagship awareness, outreach, and first-involvement program. This will enable us to continue introducing youth and adults with disabilities to adaptive sport opportunities while ensuring they have a positive first experience. Support will help us provide affordable equipment loans, host ‘Have-A-Go’ Days for new and developing athletes and their families, deliver in-person and virtual education sessions, facilitate peer mentorship, and maintain our inventory of specialized equipment for use within the community.
Created in 2012, GivingTuesday started out at a simple idea – a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, it has since grown into a global movement, uniting millions, and unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. Canada, along with over 75 other countries, participate and rally around the unifying theme of ‘Together, we give, thank, stand, help, and heal’.
Sport has the power to make a tremendous impact in the lives of athletes, and we have the privilege of witnessing that impact first-hand. As the sport & recreation sector recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we look ahead to resuming in-person programs, events, and competitions, so that we can continue our valuable mission of growing awareness and opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. Join us in celebrating GivingTuesday this year by supporting and bringing awareness to our campaign. Help make your own impact in the lives of athletes with physical disabilities. Find out more by visiting https://givingtuesday.ca/partners/ontario-para-network
About GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is the world’s largest generosity movement, taking place each year after Black Friday. The “opening day of the giving season,” it’s a time when charities, businesses, and individuals come together to celebrate giving and participate in activities that support charities and non-profits; to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. https://givingtuesday.ca/
About the Ontario Para Network
Formerly known as the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association, our mission at the Ontario Para Network (ONPARA) is to grow opportunities for participation in adaptive sports across Ontario. As the governing body for wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis in the province, we strive to offer opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in recreational, competitive, and high performance programs. We lead, develop, support and advocate for athletes, coaches and volunteers to build strong and inclusive sport communities. We also deliver extensive outreach and education programs targeting schools as well as individuals and clinicians at rehabilitation hospitals and the broader health care sector.