It takes a village to help raise our children and from every village, there is someone leading the charge. Bob Caissie is one of those people!!!

25 years ago, Caissie first organized a fundraiser and took a group of Rotarian snowmobilers on a great northern adventure. Over the course of 20 years, the Great Northern Ride raised nearly $3 million dollars for local charities.

One year ago, on a fishing trip with friends Rob Timmerman and Steve Haggerty, a conversation started about what they could do next, to do something else to raise money for the kids. That was the genesis of the Great Northern Fundraisers, who together contributed and solicited donations to support children’s programs, camps and sports in Brantford and Brant County.

This year’s Great Northern experience was a group fishing trip that attracted 30 participants, each contributing a minimum $1,500 donation on top of trip expenses. Additional gifts were raised by sponsorship and pledges. Through Rotary Club of Brantford, $84,000.00 of the proceeds raised by the Great Northern Fundraisers were donated to the Arnold Anderson Sport Fund supporting children from low-income families with the cost of registration fees. This donation alone will give over 240 local youth the opportunity to play sports this year!

Attending a meeting of the Rotary Club of Brantford, club president Mike Mears and Caissie presented a cheque to Brent Gordon, President of the Arnold Anderson Sport Fund, with the results of the Great Northern Fundraiser. “We are absolutely humbled and beyond grateful to receive this unbelievable gift! This is by far the largest donation our Charity has ever received since it’s inception in 2000,” says Gordon. “The best way to raise money is to do stuff you like to do,” shared Bob Caissie. “Getting people involved, and recognizing that young people need some support – our support. And there’s many, many families in need.”

Like so many other charities, the Arnold Anderson Sport Fund is experiencing their highest volume of applications from families in need of financial assistance. “We are only able to keep up with the demand for funding and continue to fulfill sport grants because of the generosity of our Volunteers, Donors, Sponsors, Grants, and Community Partners like this wonderful group! As a result of their generosity, there will continue to be “Sports for ALL Kids” says Gordon.

The AASF offers eligible, low-income City of Brantford, County of Brant and Six Nations of the Grand River families an opportunity to apply once a year to receive a financial sports grant. Their ‘Sponsor A Child’ program allows them to provide financial assistance to eligible children up to $350.00 per year, to compensate for registration fees. It has been shown that being involved in sports can have a positive effect on a child’s physical, mental, social, and intellectual well-being and by participating in sports, children are able to develop healthy habits and foundational skills that will transfer to their adult lives.

The Arnold Anderson Sport Fund would like to thank the following people for making this event possible and such a tremendous success!

GREAT NORTHERN FUNDRAISERS of 2024

Franco Barbon
Bob Caissie
Kris Carson
Peter Caslick
Ryan Charlton
John Corner
Nathan Cowan
Chris Devlin
Dan Dropko
John Easton
Steve Haggerty
Mike Hexamer
Greg Isaac
Steve Knill
Hunter Malcolm
Ewart McLaughlin
Jeff MacMillan
Jim Neeve
Dave Rees
Kyle Ritchie
Jack Ronson
Mike Shapiro
Chad Simpson
Rob Timmerman
Dave VanElslander
Brad Villamere
Marc Villamere
Cole Whiting
Ty Whiting
Graham Young

Support Team: Andrew Gorecki, Alec McClellan

MAJOR SPONSOR:

Hang Air Avaiation Inc.
214 Carson Co.
Millards Chartered Professional Accountants
Richardson Wealth

Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon
RBC Wealth Management
Anonymous Foundation
Dure Originals
Hensen Foundation
Fort Henry Self Storage
Mike Yarek Dodge Chrysler
Service Master Clean
Renway Energy
Lockhart’s Odyssey
Metro Truck Group
ROI Group
Clean Shot Environmental Services
Novak Private Wealth Counsel
Royal Lepage Action Realty, Lance Calbeck
Middleport Mechanical Heating & Cooling
CrowRock
RSD Rizzo Investments Inc.
Fleetway Properties Inc.
Site Plus Electrical Solutions
TD Bank
South Brant Excavating
J&K Home Building Centre
Haggerty Homes Inc.
Brant Aero
Richardson Wealth
Beckham Brothers Co.
Turkstra Lumber
Lancaster Construction & Bins
RBT Electrical & Automation
Lanca Construction
Haggerty Business Centre
McDonald’s
New World Park Solutions
Culligan Water
Barton Mechanical
Carrier Tirecraft
A-1 Auto Recyclers
CJ Cooper
South Coast Hyundai
Service Master Clean
Dualsport Plus
Brant Auto Painting
Devlin’s Country Bistro
Wendy’s
Schut’s Brick Stone Landscape
Carrier Emergency Vehicles
Culligan Water
Ludlow’s
Advantage Vinyl Wrapping Services
Apex Chain & Cable
J.H. Young Fine Jeweler’s
Scotlynn
Paradise Pools & Landscaping
Kelsey’s Original Roadhouse
London KIA
Extend Communications
West Brant Window World
Blue Star Ford Lincoln
Pencar Sales, Rentals and Leasing
A&R Heating and Cooling
Lintec Label and Flexible Packaging Solutions