For most of these youths, it was their first time attending a basketball game and visiting the Air Canada Centre. And, even though the Raptors played a decent game, they lost 95-90. But, it didn't matter to the group. Just being amongst a boisterous crowd and watching the teams battle it out was such a thrill.
The event was made possible through the tremendous support of sponsors, Promoter Eddie Williams of Party People Productions and everyone who supported his annual birthday party that was held on February 26th at the Six Degrees Venue.
For the last four years, Williams has hosted his annual "Party for a Purpose" birthday event. The proceeds from the event are used to finance the purchase of tickets for youths, 10-17 years of age, to attend a Toronto Raptors home basketball game.
The initiative to send at-risk youth and families to a basketball game program began in February 2008, shortly after my son Keegan Allen, was shot while attending a dance competition in Toronto on Thanksgiving weekend in 2007. On October 9th, after being on life support for a couple of days, he passed away from his injuries at the age of 18. Keegan spent much of his life attending programs in SYRC and its parent organization, Tropicana Community Centre. Tropicana is an organization that has been so near and dear to my heart for more than an decade. So, I'm honoured to be part of this experience where I can continue to be involved with youth in memory of my son.
A Black History Month Essay Writing Contest, sponsored in part by Party People Productions, is the selection process that is used to determine the kids who win the opportunity to attend the game. The contest is made available to several after-school programs across the GTA as well to all members of the Tropicana Youth Service Group of Scarborough.
Special thanks to the staff, youth, and Manager, Cameal Johnson from the SYRC; Eddie Williams, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and to all of you who participated in any way to make this a special day!
Information about SYRC:
The Scarborough Youth Resource Centre (SYRC) is a division of Tropicana Community Services located in the Scarborough Town Centre Mall. Recently celebrating its 15th year anniversary, the SYRC operates successfully as a drop-in service and is dedicated to providing a safe space and building a sense of community for youth aged 12 to 24, as well as offering a range of activities, programs and resources that promote opportunities for personal development, employment and empowerment.
Last year, the SYRC served 8,500 youth who accessed the drop-in services (phone, fax, and computers) and the core programs that focus on self-expression through peer support, personal development and dance. Tropicana Community Services is a United Way Member Agency.
Keegan's Involvement with SYRC and Tropicana
Keegan Allen was senselessly shot at an all-ages dance event at the Hungarian House Cultural Centre on Monday October 8, 2007. At just 18 years old, he passed away the following day from his injuries.
Keegan, who adopted the nickname “Speckz” because he wore eyeglasses, was a popular young man in Grade 12 who loved dancing, video games and computers.
Since early childhood, Keegan attended Tropicana's day camps, after school programs, tutoring classes and in 2006, completed the 40 hour community services requirement that is necessary for Ontario students to graduate. He did it by helping out at the SYRC after school. He had planned to study video game design or computer technology upon graduation.
SYRC's Youth Participation
Since Keegan Allen's untimely passing in October 2007, several events spearheaded by SYRC youth have been held to commemorate and celebrate his life while providing inspiring non-violence messages. On the one year anniversary of his death, the month of October was dedicated to Keegan with various activities such as poetry and video game days, ending with an event called The Speckz Effect in which several talented youth, most of whom were his peers, expressed their talents through song, dance and drama. About 150 youth, community members and the media were in attendance. SYRC still continues to hold events every October in honour of Keegan.
No comments:
Post a Comment