Mark Deacon speaks to the crowd at a One Kids Place press conference where he and his husband Steven announced they were handing the Children's Treatment Centre a cheque for $100,000. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
A North Bay family with an autistic child showed its appreciation for One Kids Place today.
Mark and Steve Deacon handed the children’s treatment centre a cheque for $100,000.
“We have a child with exceptionalities and we’ve been so impressed with One Kids Place that it was our thinking that this is the best way of making a big difference was using something that was so excellent and funding something that will have real, on the ground, tangible impact,” said Mark Deacon.
Mark says they have been in consultation with One Kids Place since January, trying to figure out how to use the funding. It was decided the cash will go towards summer camps that will be free to area families.
“This is $100,000 donated to the centre so that we can provide summer programs for children and youth with autism,” said One Kids Place Executive Director Judy Sharpe, who notes the funding will pay for camps for the next five summers.
“These are programs we wouldn’t normally be able to provide so this is extra funding coming in that allows us to expand our level of services we are providing now for these families.”
Sharpe says the camp will run for a seven week period.
“So children get to learn and play and develop new skills and parents get a little bit of time away to do some of the other many things they need to do in their life, knowing their kids are safe and in a supportive environment.”
This isn’t the first time the Deacon’s have shown their generosity. Earlier this year they donated $50,000 to the Food Bank to help the construction of a new wing at the new location on Fisher Street.
“We’ve been fortunate and I was always raised to share your fortune, share whatever you have,” said Mark Deacon.
“You’ve got to spread the good wherever you can give it.”
