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Annual Tim Hortons Camp Day aims to change children's lives

June 1 marks Camp Day, the largest source of funding for the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation, with both Cranbrook locations participating
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Luke Pierce

Each year, the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation hosts Camp Day in an effort to raise funds to help children from low-income families build essential life skills and a bright future by sending them to camp.

Wednesday marked the 2016 edition of Tim Hortons Camp Day, with both locations in Cranbrook participating in the annual fundraiser.

In a letter from Bill Moir, president, and Dave Newnham, vice-president and executive director, the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation partnered with over 1,300 schools and youth-serving agencies in order to help send more than 18,000 youth to one of three programs created by the foundation in 2015.

"On behalf of all the children and youth served by the Foundation in 2015, thank you," Moir and Newnham wrote.

According to the Tim Hortons Children's Foundations' 2015 Year in Review, $12,811,000 was raised by the Camp Day initiative, making it the foundation's largest source of funding.

According to the report, 84 per cent of the foundation's budget goes towards its charitable program, with nine per cent dedicated to fundraising expenses and seven per cent to administrative costs.

"These businesses do a great job of helping out young kids," said Luke Pierce, head coach of the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice, after volunteering his time to help run the drive-thru for Camp Day at the Tamarack Centre Tim Hortons in Cranbrook on Wednesday. "Having young kids of my own, I know how tough it can be and how expensive it can be at times. Anything they can do and the people of Cranbrook can do to help that out is outstanding. It's nice to see a great turnout here."

The Tim Hortons Children's Foundation has created seven camps across Canada and the United States, including in Parry Sound, Ont., Tatamagouche, N.S., Kananaskis, Alta., Quyon, Que., Campbellsville, Ky., St. George, Ont., and Pinawa, Man.

The next largest initiative for the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation is the Coin Program, which raised $7,034,000 in 2015.

Camp Day runs at both Tim Hortons locations in Cranbrook for the duration of Wednesday, June 1, with 100 per cent of the proceeds from coffee sales going towards Tim Hortons camps.

Donations can also be made to the Tim Hortons Children's Foundation in-store or by visiting www.timhortons.com.