You likely know him but you may not know about his new role, which has an impact in the lives of many. How about we lend him a hand?

Branch, I’d like you to meet Alan Woods.  He’s seen in the far left in this picture, enjoying an afternoon in his natural habitat. Oh, and despite what looks to be an example of Kevin’s... ah, ultra-friendly nature, he is actually holding the flag.  Nevertheless, feel free to chuckle.

Now, much more important than the quality of his golf swing, Alan’s heart was certainly in the right place when he lifted his hand and offered to help out with this year’s United Way Campaign as our OETS representative.

In the coming weeks and months you’ll see him organizing events, putting up posters, selling tickets and doing whatever's needed to make the campaign a success.  And let’s not forget, the United Way campaign is a powerful force of good in our community, a force that we contributed $9225 total last year and includes $1333 in special event fund-raising, but more about that later. 

For now, if you see him around I encourage you to give him a genuine "thanks."  If not for people like Alan in our community, the United Way, well, just wouldn’t be what it is today and what we need it to be.

Thanks, Alan!

Kids getting some cash for tuition. Ottawa Police giving back. OETS lending a hand

A number of youth, who were itching to do some good in our community and make some cash for post-secondary, were given a wonderful opportunity this summer.  YIPI ! (pronounced yip-pee), we’re more than happy to help out.

Since 2008, Megan Soper and Ross Chamberlin have helped out the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) by putting upwards of 40 youth-at-risk to work removing unsightly graffiti throughout our City.  These kids were hired by the Ottawa Police Service as part of the Youth In Policing Initiative (or YIPI) program, which gives young people an opportunity to develop job skills while enhancing police and community relations.  The program is for youth who may experience barriers to success and would benefit from this unique opportunity.

Megan and Ross worked with the "YIPI kids" for four days this summer.  In that time, 100+ graffiti tags were removed from utility boxes around the City and many square feet of graffiti-covered wall space was scraped and painted.  Some cash was earned for tuition and everyone went home with the knowledge that they made this city just a little cleaner then it was the day before.    
 
For more information on the program, please visit the OPS site
http://www.ottawapolice.ca/EN/Community/TeenLounge/YIPI.aspx