Sleeping Children Around the World celebrates 40 years of Success as a 100 Per ...

As published in Religion News
Wednesday, May 5, 2010

From Pinehurst Club 2010

Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), a Canadian international charity dedicated to providing bedkits (bedding, clothing, school supplies and mosquito nets) to children living in underdeveloped countries, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2010. Since its inception in 1970 by Murray and Margaret Dryden, parents of NHL hockey legends Ken and Dave Dryden, SCAW has raised more than $23 million, providing bedkits to more than one million children in 33 countries.

An event was held today at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto with the local business community to honour SCAW’s 40th anniversary. More than 600 people gathered this morning to hear Dave Dryden, Chairman of SCAW, Christine Magee, President and co-founder of Sleep Country Canada, amongst others, express what the Charity means to them and how it has helped more than one million children around the world.

From Pinehurst Club 2010

“I am honoured to know that 2010, the year in which my father would have celebrated his 99th birthday, we can celebrate another milestone, the 40th year of SCAW,” says Dave Dryden, chairman, Sleeping Children Around the World. “My father understood how vital a few hours of comfort and sleep are to help a child forget extreme temperatures, sickness, and pangs of hunger. Everyday SCAW works towards fulfilling his dream of a world in which every child benefits from the comfort of a good night’s sleep.”

For every $35 bedkit donation, 100 per cent reaches a needy child. To personalize the donation, a photo of the child with their bedkit is sent to the donor, providing a timeless way for the donor to remember the child who benefited from their generosity.

Bedkits are given to needy children in developing countries to help them face the challenges of the coming day. The content of a bedkit differs depending on the country. Common items include: mattress, ground mat, pillow, bed sheets, mosquito net, shorts/t-shirt or dress, wool blanket, sandals, towel, and school supplies.

History of SCAW

The vision for SCAW began during Murray Dryden’s travels to India. One night, while traveling through the country, Murray tripped over a child sleeping on the street and decided that he was going to do everything in his power to ensure these children had a bearable place to sleep and were better prepared to face the challenges of the coming day. He couldn’t feed the world, or alleviate hunger, but he believed a good night’s sleep could make a hungry child’s life more comfortable. Murray and Margaret Dryden registered this charity in 1970 with a distribution of 50 bedkits in Pune, India.

Murray and Margaret devoted their retirement lives to this program, initially hoping to raise $1 million. After this was achieved, Murray set a new goal of one million bedkits. In 2009, SCAW reached this goal by delivering their one millionth bedkit to a child in Kenya.

Pinehurst Club Breakfast

From Pinehurst Club 2010

The Second Annual Pinehurst Club Breakfast took place at 7:30 a.m. this morning (May 5, 2010) at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel to celebrate SCAW’s 40th year as a 100 per cent charity. Christine Magee, President and co-founder of Sleep Country Canada and Gary Comerford, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for RGA International Corporation were the featured guest speakers. SCAW’s Chairman, Dave Dryden, spoke as well in front of the local business community. The breakfast supported SCAW’s Legacy Fund, which was initiated by its founders, Murray and Margaret Dryden. The interest from The Legacy Fund supports the operating expenses of SCAW so it can continue to be a 100 per cent charity.

In the last few years, a study completed by Financial Experts indicated that the Legacy Fund will need to be strengthened in the future if SCAW expects to keep increasing the number of bedkits given to children. Supporters of SCAW initiated “The Pinehurst Club” to help grow the Legacy Fund and to keep the dream alive. Last year, the inaugural event, featuring Michael “Pinball” Clemons, CEO, Toronto Argonauts football team, raised more than $90,000. This year the charity hopes to surpass this amount.

About Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW)

Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) is a Canadian international non-for-profit organization dedicated to providing bedkits to children of any race and/or religion living in underdeveloped and developing countries.

Over the past 40 years SCAW has given out bedkits in 33 countries including India, Panama, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Peru, Tanzania, Colombia, Philippines, Togo, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Vietnam, Malawi and Sri Lanka. For more information on SCAW, please visit www.scaw.org.