Starting in 2017, the Jon Montgomery Pizza Pigout, benefiting KidSport Victoria\/Greater Victoria, quickly became a well-known, well-loved and incredibly successful annual fundraiser for our organization.\u00a0 In just three years, the event, headlined by Jon Montgomery (2010 Olympic Gold Medalist and Host of Amazing Race Canada), raised an unprecedented $180,000 for our organization.\u00a0 In early 2020, our sites were set on crossing the quarter million dollar mark with our 2020 event – and then everything changed.<\/p>\n
Pandemic conditions quickly made it very clear that Pizza Pigout 2020 was not meant to be.\u00a0 In it’s place, and driven by the amazing community generosity and interest built over the last three years, we launched Play it Forward.\u00a0 This was a Sept 14-24 online event, alongside a couple of fabulous restaurant-based fundraising initiatives by Browns Socialhouse, The Strath, and The Beach House.\u00a0 Importantly, 50% of all sponsorship dollars raised were used to purchase auction items from many of the restaurants and hotels who have supported our organization during better times.<\/p>\n
Turnout for our online auction was awesome, with many past KidSport supporters logging on to show their support, and many new friends joining the efforts.\u00a0 Really special thanks to the sponsors who got beyond this new idea, and especially to Jake Brumby’s team at CIBC Wood Gundy – their early support of $10,000 truly made the concept possible.\u00a0 All told, Play it Forward raised nearly $20K for KidSport Victoria\/Greater Victoria: that’s 65 more kids back to their sports of choice this Fall. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":618,"template":"","meta":[],"categories":[14],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n