Easter Seals Ambassador Zachary Pylychuk, 7, got his first snowmobile ride at the 2011 Snowarama for Easter Seals at the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino on Saturday, February 5. Zachary is safely tucked between his mom, Jacqueline, and the driver, Tony Swader of the Grand Portage Trail Riders snowmobile club. Yeah, Zach!
Grand Portage Lodge and Casino Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids was held on Saturday, February 5, 2011. There were 95 participants who raised $29,000 for area children with physical disabilities, like dedicated Easter Seal ambassadors Zachary Pylychuk and Erica Valiharju.
Snowarama participants showed their great community spirit by dropping off their pledge forms at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino and enjoying a great ride on the Grand Portage trails. Riders reported that trail conditions were fantastic.
This was the eighth year of Snowarama at Grand Portage. The event has raised over $200,000 in the past eight years for Easter Seals Kids. This year included an incentive draw for a $2,500 gift certificate for a snowmobile dealer. The Easter Seals Snowarama top fundraiser, Andrew Bouley, won the gift certificate.
Bouley has participated in Snowarama for five years and has been the top fundraiser for the past two years. He raised over $28,000.
Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids was the brainchild of Whipper Billy Watson and started with 12 events in communities across Ontario, raising over $130,000 in its first year. Since 1975, Snowarama events, with the help of local clubs and heroes, have raised more than $16.1 million for Easter Seals kids. It is one of the longest running fundraising events in Ontario.
The eighth annual Snowarama for Easter Seals Kids was held at the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino and on the fabulous trails maintained by the Grand Portage Trail Riders Snowmobile Club on Saturday, February 5. The event raised $29,000 for Easter Seals. There were 95 snowmobiles on the trail during Snowarama. Some of the machines and riders are pictured here preparing for the day on the Trail Riders trails.
Rhonda Harrison of Easter Seals gave heartfelt thanks to the Grand Portage community for hosting Snowarama. “Thank you to all the fundraisers, committee members, Grand Portage Lodge and Casino and all of sponsors for their dedication and great efforts. All monies raised will help children with physical disabilities. We look forward to next year’s Snowarama!” she said.
Easter Seals began in 1922 as a vision to create a better life for children and youth with physical disabilities. Today, Easter Seals continues to offer programs and services to help these children achieve a greater level of acceptance and independence, such as financial assistance for mobility and communication devices, fully accessible summer camp and funding for other summer recreational programs. Easter Seals also provides access to information and resources, as well as public education and awareness.
The hard-working Snowarama planning committee was recognized by Easter Seals. (L-R) Todd LeGarde, Billi Carlson, Dana Logan, Debra Owens, Tony Swader, MaryAnn Gagnon, Frank Vecchio. (Not pictured Deb Corcoran)
Frank Vecchio of Grand Portage Marketing chats with Easter Seals Ambassador Erica Valiharju at the Snowarama spaghetti dinner on Saturday evening.
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