Friday, December 13, 2013

Browne family helps give good night’s sleep to Third World children

As posted on Mississauga.com on December 13, 2013.

By Joseph Chin


MISSISSAUGA — Thirty-three years removed from his goaltending days in the National Hockey League, Dave Dryden still cuts an athletic figure, albeit with greyer hair.

Last night, reminiscent of the old days, he was caught in a scrum — only this time he wasn't mobbed by sports writers jostling for a post-game quote. This time he was surrounded by ordinary folks who care deeply for children half a world away.

Dryden was lending a bit of star power to Jim Browne’s fundraiser, held at Walkers Fish Market in Erin Mills, for Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), an organization that donates bed kits to children in underdeveloped and developing countries. Each kit contains a mat, pillow, sheet, blanket, clothing, towel, school supplies and a mosquito net, if needed.

“A good night’s sleep really prepares these kids for school next day,” said Dryden. “It’s amazing what a world of difference a donation of $35 — the cost of a kit — can make in a kid’s life.”

Dryden notes that SCAW, unlike most charities, doesn’t incur any fundraising expense. Instead, it relies solely on word of mouth for donations, and fundraisers such as the Browne family’s Holiday Cheer.

What started out 11 years ago as a holiday get-together with neighbours and friends (hence the name Holiday Cheer) for the Sherwood Forrest family has developed in the past seven years into a fundraising juggernaut for SCAW.

“So far, I believe we’ve raised enough funds to equip 650 kits,” said Browne.

Last year, the kits were donated to Togo, a country in western Africa.

“If children in impoverished countries like Togo don’t have the money for a school uniform, they can’t go to school — it’s as simple as that,” Browne said.

The kits, he says, go a long way because they can benefit the entire family and a lot of the stuff can be handed down to younger children.

Since SCAW’s founding by Dryden’s parents, Murray and Margaret, in 1970, it has provided bed kits, at last count, for 1.3 million children in 33 countries.

“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,” said Dryden. ”Every day SCAW works towards fulfilling his dream of a world in which every child benefits from the comfort of a good night's sleep.”

Officially, Dryden is SCAW’s chairman of the board since his dad’s death in 2004, “but mainly, I’m a volunteer,” he said.

Under his leadership over the last 12 years, SCAW has grown to distribute some 70,000 bed kits annually.

It’s this dedication of volunteers like himself that makes the organization successful. SCAW now operates out of the modest Dryden home in Etobicoke. It's staffed by women who have volunteered for decades, and any administrative expenses and the pay of the lone salaried employee is covered by an investment fund Murray Dryden left the charity. Every cent of each donation goes to the cause, says the younger Dryden.

“We want this charity to go on forever,” he said.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Local woman helps children get safe, comfortable sleep

As posted by the Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge Record, December 12, 2013.

Volunteers are leading social change right before our eyes. While we worry about Christmas shopping, the newest fashion trends and what our weekend plans are, there are 40,000 residents of Cambridge and North Dumfries thinking about how to help someone through their volunteer work this coming year.

Local resident Helen Scutt is a volunteer member of the United Way’s Community Impact Council.

She is also a “travelling volunteer” with a Toronto-based charity, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW).

Her first trip with SCAW was to Kenya in 2010. She and her husband, Jim Howley, travelled with a team to India this year to distribute bedkits to 7,000 children identified in the greatest need.

The bedkits include a mosquito net to prevent malaria, sleeping mattress, blankets, school supplies and new clothes for the children.

The organization works with overseas partners, such as Rotary Clubs, who purchase the bedkit materials locally, identify bedkit recipients, and arrange volunteers for the distribution days.

Why does Helen volunteer?

“I volunteer with this organization because I see firsthand the positive impact it has, not just for the child who receives it, but the whole family. The smile on each child’s face as they receive their gift is such a joy!”

Helen set a personal goal to raise $50,000 for SCAW – that would be 1,429 bedkits, and in three years, she’s almost reached her goal with the support of family and friends.

“Each of us can make a difference – one child, one person at a time.”

United Way’s Volunteer Centre is here to help you connect to causes that matter to you.

Search our online volunteer opportunities database by visiting www.uwcambridge.on.ca and clicking on the Volunteer Centre tab. Or call 519-621-1030 ext. 253.

Jennifer Annett works for the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries. This column shares stories of volunteers who are inspiring positive change in our community.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Dave Dryden receives Lifetime Achievement Award

As posted on The Etobicoke Guardian, December 10, 2013.

The Rotary Club of Toronto West Hosts the 15th Annual Rotary
Youth Impact Awards Dinner Friday, January 31st, 2014 at the Old Mill Inn

Dave Dryden to be honoured


The Rotary Club of Toronto West is proud to present its 15th annual Rotary Youth Impact Awards dinner and we need your support to make this a rousing success.

At this event, we recognize the efforts of individuals who, and organizations which, make a positive impact on youth.

The highlight of the evening is the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award, and this year’s recipient is sportsman and humanitarian Dave Dryden. For more than 20 years, Dave has committed himself to Sleeping Children Around the World a remarkable charitable organization which has distributed over 1.2 million bedkits to needy students in many parts of the world. These bedkits contribute to the children’s well being and gives them a better start in their education.

Five other awards are also presented during the evening, including two designated specifically to individuals under the age of 25 who have already displayed significant leadership and passion by serving others in their respective communities.

This event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Toronto West and over the years we have used the net proceeds raised to fulfill our commitment to help youth achieve their potential in our local community and worldwide. We have, among other things, funded recreation programmes for physically and mentally disabled children at the YMCA, and skill training and counseling programmes for juvenile offenders. As well we have funded literacy programmes in Northern Ontario, distributed free dictionaries in our local elementary schools and purchased paediatric chairs for the Etobicoke General Hospital.

We want to continue serving our community in ways that give our most vulnerable children a better opportunity to enjoy their lives and a better opportunity to make a positive contribution to our society.

With your attendance at our event, we will be able to fulfill our goals. In fact a significant amount of the net proceeds raised from this year’s event will be used to purchase and distribute a large number of bedkits through Sleeping Children Around the World.

We look forward to your attendance at our event. For $150 per person you can enjoy a dinner and silent auction and have a lively and entertaining evening at the Old Mill Inn.

Please contact me for tickets and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,


Willis Rudy
The Rotary Club of Toronto West ● Tel: 416-233-3123 ● email: willis.rudy@sympatico.ca

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Helen Scutt -- Focus on Volunteering

Submitted by the United Way Volunteer Centre, Cambridge and North Dumfries

As posted by the Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge Record, December 3, 2013.

Focus on Volunteering

December 2013: International Volunteer Day – celebrating grassroots change


International Volunteer Day is a global celebration of volunteers. Founded in 1985 by the United Nations, it takes place annually on December 5 to recognize volunteer efforts in our community, in our provinces and territories and across the world. Volunteers are leading social change right before our eyes. While we worry about Christmas shopping, the newest fashion trends, and what our weekend plans are, there are 40,000 residents of Cambridge and North Dumfries thinking about how to help someone through their volunteer work this coming year.

Helen Scutt is a volunteer member of the United Way’s Community Impact Council. She is also a ‘Travelling Volunteer’ with a Toronto-based charity, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW). Her first trip with SCAW was to Kenya in 2010. She and her husband Jim Howley travelled with a team to India this year to distribute bedkits to 7,000 children identified in the greatest need. The bedkits include a mosquito net to prevent malaria, sleeping mattress, blankets, school supplies and new clothes for the children. The organization works with Overseas Partners, such as Rotary Clubs, who purchase the bedkit materials locally, identify bedkit recipients, and arrange volunteers for the distribution days.

Why does Helen volunteer? “I volunteer with this organization because I see firsthand the positive impact it has, not just for the child who receives it, but the whole family. The smile on each child’s face as they receive their gift is such a joy!” Helen set a personal goal to raise $50,000 for SCAW – that would be 1429 bedkits, and in three years, she’s almost reached her goal with the support of family and friends. “Each of us can ‘make a difference’- one child, one person at a time.”