Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers has been raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for KidSport B.C. for the past three years and this year, they did it again.
On Saturday, the Burnaby company held its fourth annual Corporate Kids challenge, raising more than $530,000 for the program, which provides grants for financially disadvantaged children to participate in amateur sport, according to a press release from the company.
"I would like to say a big thank you to all the corporate teams who came out to support this truly fun and important event," Peter Blake, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers CEO said in the release. "Ritchie Bros. has operations around the world, but B.C. is our home base – it's where we were born and bred – and we want to give back to our community. As soon as we connected with KidSport B.C. in 2010, there was an instant connection and every year we are so proud to host this event."
In the four years the event has been held, the Corporate Kids Challenge has raised more than $1.8 million dollars for KidSport B.C., making it the biggest fundraiser for any KidSport chapter in all of Canada, the release stated.
"Twenty years ago, the staff and board of Sport B.C. had a vision of a program like KidSport, but I don't think they could have imagined an event like this today that raises so much money and helps so many kids get in the game," Pete Quevillon, a director with KidSport B.C., said in the release. "This event – and all the people here today – will help about 500 kids play a season of sport. It's a huge day and I thank you on behalf of KidSport."
Olympic athletes, local celebrities and corporate teams participated in a series of sports day challenges at the event, the release stated. Twenty corporate teams were at the event.
There was also a live charity auction featuring items donated by local companies and members of the business community. Auction highlights included a 10-person boot camp session with two-time CFL all-star defensive back and TV exercise show host Tommy Europe, Vancouver Canucks gift packages, a deluxe fishing trip vacation for two at Stuart Island and more. All proceeds from the charity auction were donated to KidSport B.C.
The opening ceremonies included a presentation from Michelle Stilwell, B.C. Liberal MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, Corporate Kids Challenge athlete and five-time Canadian Paralympic medal winner in women's basketball and women's athletics. On behalf of the province, she presented a cheque for $400,000 to KidSport B.C.
"We are here today to celebrate 20 amazing years of KidSport," Stilwell said in the release. "Sport creates so many opportunities for us to learn about teamwork, camaraderie and fair play – it helps make us stronger citizens and builds stronger communities. So I am excited to announce, as a representative for the minister of sport, Coralee Oakes, that the government of B.C. is donating $400,000 to KidSport B.C. This is a commitment to B.C.'s future and B.C.'s families."
Ritchie Bros. plans to host the fifth Corporate Kids Challenge next September.
