The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The wait is almost over. Seven months of fundâ€" raising paid off for the Rotary Children‘s Centre in Waterloo last week as the organization _ announced that 98 per cent of its "Kids Can‘t Wait...Build a Family Tradition" campaign goal has been met. Kids Can‘t Wait LRIZILQUALQ OGUAUALLDL L VÂ¥ V ULLo 0o 0 Rotary Children‘s Centre annual campaign raises $835,700 "This campaign has been such a success because the community â€" believes . so strongly in the children we serve," Katherine Mayberty, director of development and community relations for the centre, told a group of 200 volunteers and community members last Friday afterâ€" noon. As of last week, just over $835,700 had been raised in support of services provided to _ developmentallyâ€"chalâ€" lenged children at the cenâ€" tre. The campaign goal, announced â€" last fall, is $850,000. "This has been a tremenâ€" dous undertaking," said campaign â€" chair Elaine Ormston. "But it‘s a tribute to the humanity of all those who gave of themselves for the benefit of the centre and the children it serves." The Rotary Children‘s Centre is a charitable, nonâ€" profit organization estabâ€" lished in 1956 to help chilâ€" dren with disabilities. Located on â€" Hallmark Drive, its mission is to cultiâ€" vate the potential of children and young adults who have developmental, _ physical and communicative disabilâ€" ities. Province announces selfâ€"employment program for people with disabilities Waterloo MPP Elizabeth Witmer _ announced Friday â€" that â€" Lutherwood Community Opportunities Development _ Association {CODA) will receive $217,000 over the next two years to provide a selfâ€"employment program which will serve people with â€" disabilities in â€" the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo area. There are currently more The new program is By Anorea Baiey Chronicle Staff _ y # # s Cb 1 4 im * â€" y # C"cMaÂ¥th) rpY o o oo eces PL.c es Bails A uesd NEh at Wiainecla~a Taum Unimea "Children no longer need a doctor‘s note to be acceptâ€" ed into the centre," said John Lynch, president of the Rotary Children‘s Centre Charitable Foundation. "That‘s why the waiting list is so high. "And that‘s why additionâ€" al funding is so essential. It helps to continue and expand existing services, as well as provide extra help, making sure each child reaches his or her full potenâ€" tial." funded under the "Innovative Projects" comâ€" ponent â€" of _ the Ontario Disability Support program‘s employment supports funcâ€" tion. Innovative Projects are intended to reduce or elimiâ€" nate barriers to accessing competitive employment for people with disabilities. _ "Our government recogâ€" nizes that people with disâ€" abilities can and want to Tomorrow, Thursday April 26th at Waterloo Town Square injoy special savings throughout the mall. Register at Shoppers Drug Mart See stores for details LIFESTYLE Waterloo Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft knows all about overcoming adverâ€" sity with help from the cenâ€" tre. She was on hand to shate the story of her son, Rob, who, as a child, was the recipient of "hundreds of hours of attention" from the children‘s organization. As a threeâ€"yearâ€"old, the thenâ€"future mayor‘s son couldn‘t communicate at a satisfactory level for his age, prompting his parents to call upon the centre for help. _"The Rotary Children‘s Centre gave our son the gift of communication," work," said Witmer. "We are committed to ensuring that they receive the necessary support to achieve their perâ€" sonal employment goals." The Kâ€"W selfâ€"employâ€" ment program â€" will be delivered through a partnerâ€" ship between Lutherwood CODA, the Canadian Natâ€" ional Institute for the Blind, the _ Canadian _ Hearing Society and Kâ€"W Accessâ€" In his teenage years, she said, Rob went on to win debating awards and capâ€" tain sports teams. He is now completing his PHD in medâ€" ical science. "Our son is who he is because the Rotary Centre gave him the chance to learn," she said, "and I thank them from the bottom of my heart." But, in Mayberry‘s words, it takes a village, or in this case volunteers and donors, to raise a child. Ormston â€" added, "It‘s together that we can accomâ€" plish miracles." Ability. It‘s expected that up to 15 people with disabilities will _ successfully â€" launch small businesses as a result of their involvement in the twoâ€"year program. "The project offers peoâ€" ple with disabilities the unique opportunity to creâ€" ate employment for themâ€" selves that accommodates their specific disability," said Witmer. ’I‘he City of Waterloo‘s Waterloo Recreation Complex will be officially renamed the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex May 6 in a special memorial cerâ€" emony to area veterans and their great service of humanity. There, new signage will be unveiled, dedicating Waterloo‘s premiere spectator and event facility as a living legacy to the sacrifices for the community‘s Armed Forces in the Great World Wars. Ceremonies will begin at 2 p.m. with the Sea Cadet Marching Band and representatives from the Legion, Navy and Air Force migrating to the front entrance of the building. The rededication of the Waterloo Recreation Complex follows the March closing of the Waterloo Memorial Arena, which became a commemorative site in 1947 for those community members who gave their lives fighting for peace and freedom. _ The Waterloo Recreation Complex opened its doors for the first time in 1993, and is located at 101 Father Bauer Dr. The Kidney Foundation of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Canadian Diabetes Association, The Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Organ Donation Ontario, is hosting an Organ Donor Awareness Day April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Conestoga Mall. Representatives from these agencies will be on hand to provide information on organ donation and the impact it has on their clients. Visitors will have the chance to gather information about the truths and myths of organ donation, and, if they choose, obtain and sign an organ donor card. For further information, call 1â€"888â€"879â€"9902. Waterloo will be one of 55 locations across Canada where an afterâ€"school program will be eligible for a grant of up to $40,000, under a new program launched by the Royal Bank Financial Group. _ Royal Bank is inviting organizations that provide afterâ€"school programs for primary and secondary schoolâ€"aged youth to subr_nit proposals for fi:nding. A selection panel consisting of community memâ€" bers will assist in selecting which organization will receive the grant, which will range from $25,000 to $40,000. The money will go to support communityâ€"based afterâ€"school programs that increase parental involveâ€" ment and family support, teach basic social skills, improve academic achievement and increase selfâ€" esteem while developing community connections. Organizations wishing to apply for funding may complete a request for proposal, which can be found on the Royal Bank‘s website at www.royalâ€" bank.com/community/afterâ€"school/selection.html. Proposals must be submitted by May 10. Royal Bank to invest in local afterâ€"school program Local agencies host organ donation awareness event Recreation Complex gets name change 75 King Street South, Uptown Waterloo** 886â€"4190 11°â€"~y4 90â€" 0% Ask for details Northfleid at the Parkway 746â€"1666