Kids Help Phone Gets Needed Help

Louise Erven, Event Organizer, enjoys a moment at 3rd annual event













Local telecommunications company TeleTech Canada is hosting their 3rd annual fundraising charity slow-pitch tournament this weekend, with the proceeds going to the local chapter of The National Kids Help Phone.

The local chapter has had to shut down their help lines on a regular basis at high call volume times in recent months and is struggling to keep the doors open due to government cut backs in funding.

Hearing about the plight of the chapter, Chair of TeleTech’s EPIC committee, Louise Erven, nominated the program as a charity for the company to consider when selecting the organization they would support with the 2005 tournament.

“We took a vote in the site and the Kids Help Phone had 75% of the site’s support,” states Erven.

Erven also said the help line was a natural choice as it fits within TeleTech’s mandate of education and children’s activities in North Bay.

Last year the tournament donated the proceeds to the North Bay Literacy Council, and continues to support their efforts by covering the council's printing costs.

“We have requests constantly, and there is so much we could give to, so we (EPIC committee) narrow it down and let the employees decide.”

The company and its employees have many events that they participate in during the year from charity fund raising walks to the Lion's Christmas Telethon, but Erven says she would like to see the slow-pitch tournament recognized by the community as their signature event.

With 16 teams in the draw, the committee has put a great deal of effort and time into organizing the event which is running at both fields behind Memorial Gardens, and in the effort they have exceeded their goal and the Kids Help Phone will receive over $3,000 to help them deliver the vital programming for area kids in crisis.

“Kids need that confidential place to call and talk. If they don’t have it where do they call, where do they go,” questioned Erven.

“It could be the difference in one kid not committing a crime and it could stop one kid from feeling suicidal.”

Play resumes Sunday at 9 am with the final game played at 3:15 pm.