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Kids Can‘t Wait campaign exceeds fundraising goal But worries put a damper on celebration F l The annual KidsAbility centre‘s Kids Can‘t Wait tundraising campaign was held against the backâ€" drop of dire funding predicâ€" tions this year, which have centre oficials worried about potential I;ly(}l’fs and longer waiting lists starting as early as this fall. And while the centre‘s directors waited for the province to offer more fundâ€" ing support in yvesterday‘s provincial budget, the comâ€" munity responded to the need by exceeding this year‘s goal of $800,000, by more than $24,000. That represents approxtâ€" mately 10 per cent of the budget for the centre that provides services to more than 3,700 local children with physical disabilities, developmental delays and communication disorders. However, the centre still has a waiting list of 337 chilâ€" dren looking for access to its specialized services, and another 500 children who are waiting to receive the fullâ€"range of services. Veterans may get free bus passes More than 90 per cent of the funding for those serâ€" vices comes from the province. After a twoâ€"year freeze, Kidsabiltty. formerly the Rotary Children‘s Centre, can no longer draw funds from the foundation to l en Baxter is optimistic frer last week‘s trip to Waterloo regional council. BE The Second World War veteran presented a petition to regional councillors, requesting free bus passes for veterans of.the Korean and Second World wars. as BORN IN SWEDEN. RAISED IN CANAOA. Bâ€"K VOLVO Kong St. 8. Waterice By Bos Vrsasat Chromecle Saft By Juouianna Kenr For The Chronicle tihwors CERTIFIED imake up the shortfall. The centre requires staâ€" bie, multiâ€"vear ftunding from the province to make up the shortfall and to better plan tor staffing and services to meet the need. the centre received promises Friday from local MPPs Elizabeth Witmer, John Milloy and ‘Ted Arnott that they will continue to advocate on the behalf of local children. "There is a lot of advocaâ€" cy going on." said Steven Swatridge, the chief execuâ€" tive officer of KidsAbility at the campaign wrapâ€"up party. "We‘re really looking forward to the provincial budget. "We have no heads up whatsoever so we‘re going to be glued to the TV Tuesday." Swatridge said all of the current planning for service and staffing levels at the centre is based on having some word from the province by Labour day. "If we don‘t receive anything by then we‘re into a process of having to lay off a number of employees and cut serâ€" vices." he said. The centre has been developing a communicaâ€" tions plan to make sure word about their need has "I like helping other kids â€" there‘s lots of them that need help." Council agreed to the free service, but now needs to look at the numbers involved. well as for peacekeepers "I can see their point," Baxter said. "We don‘t have exact figures. "They have to go through their process. But it‘s encouraging anyway. We had a cordial reception and â€"Braden Martz campaign ambassador filtered through the comâ€" munity, _ and _ they‘ve received a lor of positive feedback in response to their concerns. "Our profite has been raised significantly in the community," said Swaâ€" tridge. "KidsAbility is all about helping children with disabilities reach their potential." Proof of that were two of the KidsAbility child ambasâ€" sadors who were on hand for the announcement of the fundraising total. Braden Martz, confined to a wheelchair. helped put a face on the work being done in the centre and felt great about helping the campaign surpass its goal. "I helped raise maney for KidsAbility by making some speeches and helped raise some money," said Martz about the campaign that started in September. "I like helping other kids â€" there‘s lots of them that need help." Harvey Reid, chairman of the campaign. said there was some concern the name change to KidsAbility would cause some confusion about where the money was going to. "We were quite pleased to overcome all of that and not only meet our goal but to surpass it," he said. He said the community was also responding to the need put out there by the centre. "There‘s a realization that health care dollars are at a premium," said Reid. "Once again this community met the challenge and helped us make the goal we were able to beat." we got a few things straightâ€" ened out. I think we‘re on the right track." Baxter said there are about 3,000 veterans living in the region. His feeling about this request is simple: it‘s a costâ€" efficient way to say thank you to those who put their lives on the line for this country. W That‘s why city council gave the green light Monday night for staff at Parkview Cemetery in Bechtel Park to proceed with their study of expansion. The study will include a look at how the expansion will impact Bechtel Park, growth pressures, longâ€"term needs, environmental preservation and costs. urial space in Waterioo is fast becoming a premiâ€" By Amze Wison For The Chronicle Feeding frenzy According _ to _ staff reports, Parkview Cemetery has only six to nine years before it reaches full capaciâ€" According to Steve Heldâ€" man, team leader of Waterâ€" loo cemetery services, staff performed 222 traditional casket burials and 178 creâ€" mation services in 2003. If current trends continâ€" ue, expansion of the existing cemetery land inventory is necessary. The City of Waterloo bought 138 acres of land from the Bechtel family in Parkview _ Cemetery, which is located just off Uniâ€" versity Avenue near Bridge Street, was established in 1966, using approximately 30 acres of that land and has both burial and cremation opportunities. the mid 1950s for cemetery purposes. _ Shortly after, a proporâ€" tion of the remaining land was made for recreational use,. including both baseball and soccer fields, and most recently a leashâ€"free dog Continued on page 5