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Hallmark Dr. in Waterloo, there will be several opportunities to look back on KidsAbility‘s past. s For starters, an anniversary DVD chroniâ€" cling KidsAbility‘s evolution will be on disâ€" play, Swatridge said. "It‘s really all about the kids we‘ve served over 50 years, so it‘s picâ€" tures." Visitors will also be able to peruse through a series of five scrapbooks â€" one for every decade â€" full of stories and pictures. Continued from page 3 "Mostly, it‘s to give people the opporâ€" tunity to come together and renew acquaintances," he said, adding Alumni Day is expected to draw up to 600 peoâ€" ple. KidsAbility celebrating 50 years of making a difference with children _ KidsAbility has changed a lot over the past 50 years. â€" 8 s It all began in 1957 when the Rotary Club of Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo raised $125,000, which was put towards buying a piece of property across the street from the Grand River Hospital. There, they built A Crippled Children‘s Centre, a facility that treated kids with physical disabilities. In 1972, a small KidsAbility site was opened in Cambridge. It later moved to the Cambridge Family YMCA and became the centre‘s first coâ€"location partnership. KidsAbility in Guelph opened its doors to 17 clients in 1999. Last year, more than 600 children were served there. And the original site in Kitchener moved to its current location on Hallâ€" mark Drive, near Conestoga Mall, in 1995. This building houses a swimming pool, some specialized programs and the centre‘s administrative team. "We really hit it hard this year," said Cuddy. "And the community was more generous than ever before." Plus, it‘s a highlight for the staff. "It‘s one of the reasons I do work here," said bartender Kim Folliott, adding the restaurant has also raised money for two National Service Dogs and bought toys and clothes for famiâ€" lies in need. A small location was also opened in Fergus in 2001. â€" ===â€"â€"â€"â€" Over the years the centre‘s name has changed, and so has its clients. _ _ Now, children with physical disabiliâ€" ties represent about 20 per cent of its clients, while kids with communication "(Cuddy) does stuff all year round and he gives back to where it‘s needâ€" ed," she said. Fundraiser gets everyone motivated Continued from page 4 Mercedes Benz Dealer Authorized Meticulous Restoration Original Paint Finishes Unsurpassed Collision Repair 15 Centennial Dr. Kitchener BMW FINE AUTOMOBILE BODY AND PAINT Mhich 519â€"578â€"2052 Specializing In PORSCHE JA JAGUAR _ "We‘ve become much more than a cripâ€" _ fremendous i mpact on a lot pled children‘s centre," Swatridge said of 5p> KidsAbility, which sees 4,000 kids each year. Offamllles and young people To RSVP for Alumni Day, call 519â€"886â€" _ who are now adults [Oday_ * 8886, ext. 390, or go to www.kidsability.ca. m e Swatridge is looking forward to the event, which will be held rain or shine. impairments are the largest group, followed by those with developmental delays. "KidsAbility has had a â€" Stephen Swatridge CEO of KidsAbility _ WATERLOO CHRONICLE * Wednesday, September 12, 2007 + 7 "KidsAbility has had a tremendous impact on a lot of families and young people who are now adults today. By coming out and joining in the celebration, it will be a chance for them to reconnect to a time when they had significant needs, and they‘ve grown and developed since then," Swatridge said. "This is a time to celebrate that and acknowledge their achievements." +4 d d OH0