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Rotary Club of West Ottawa Donates $25,000 to Dave’s Dream
 
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa Donates $25,000 to Dave’s Dream
 
Ottawa, ON, March 11, 2014 – The regular weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa at the Travelodge Hotel and Conference Centre made a little more buzz today as the Rotarians presented a $25,000 cheque to the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation.

Club President, Hadi Mortada presented Dave Smith and Stephen McGill with the final installment of the club’s three (3) year commitment to Dave’s Dream, the campaign to build a new home for the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre.  Rotary Club of West Ottawa has contributed a total of $75,000 toward the cost of constructing this new facility.  
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa raised the $75,000 solely through the sale of their Rotary Cash Calendars.  Club members have been selling the Rotary Cash Calendars for 10 years making them a very successful fundraiser for the Rotary Club of West Ottawa.  Hadi Mortada, Rotary Club of West Ottawa President, said “I say a huge thank you to the people of Ottawa for their generous support of this special project.”

Dave Smith, founder of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, said, “I want to thank the Rotary Club of West Ottawa for their support. It is only through the efforts of great organizations and individuals that we will realize our goal of a new centre to treat youth and their families. Our youth deserve no less.”

The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre first opened its doors in 1993, offering a day treatment program for youth struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and a support program for parents.  In 2010, the Centre was transformed into the only residential treatment facility in Eastern Ontario dedicated to helping Anglophone youth aged 13-21 overcome substance abuse issues and other related challenges. These challenges kept them from achieving a healthier lifestyle, kept them from their hopes and dreams for the future.

Stephen McGill, Chair of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation, said “the Centre has been helping at-risk youth in our community for 20 years. And through our life-changing work, we have made great strides but there is much to be done and the need for our services continues to grow. We are so very grateful to the Rotary Club of West Ottawa for recognizing the importance of the work we do in helping to bring hope to families and youth in crisis.”

Enquiries regarding donations to Dave’s Dream can be sent to the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation office at Stephanie.m@davesmithcentre.org.

Media contacts: 
Stephanie MacGregor, Executive Director
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre Foundation 
Tel.: (613) 594-8333 x1201 
Stephanie.m@davesmithcentre.org 

Alan  Bowles
Rotary Club of West Ottawa

613-728-3277
ambowles@rogers.com