Kyle Myers
Ticats.ca
The ‘Catches for Kids’ program presented by Supreme Basics Office Products is coming off a record year in 2012.
The program works by rewarding Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton and Burlington with funds for each catch and touchdown that Ticats receivers record throughout the season. With the Ticats leading the CFL in total offence last season, the program meant big bucks for Big Brothers Big Sisters — $6,000 from Supreme Basics, the program’s corporate sponsor.
“We’re happy to be a part of the program with the Tiger-Cats and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hamilton and Burlington,” said Simon King of Supreme Basics. “As a Canadian owned and operated company, it’s important for us to give back to the communities we live and play in.”
The program’s record year in 2012 will go a long way to support the youth in the Hamilton and Burlington areas, said Marianne Noakes, Executive Director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
“We’re all about mentoring kids here in Hamilton and in Burlington. We served over 1,600 kids last year, and that costs money,” said Noakes. “We’ve had a partnership with the Ticats for thirty years now, and we were delighted to be chosen as the beneficiaries of this partnership with Supreme Basics.”
The $6,000 donation will go directly to the screening and training of volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as for the equipment necessary for the various sports and activities the program offers to community kids.
Perhaps no Tiger-Cat knows the importance of programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters like receiver Dave Stala. The veteran also runs the Stala’s Stars program, which invites 30 kids from the Hamilton area to meet him and attend a Ticats home game.
“Being from this area I understand the responsibility of the team to help out in the community,” Stala said. “When I was a kid I got a lot of help from a lot of people in this area and the reason I’m here today is because of them.”
One of the greatest parts of the program for players like Stala is that it coincides with the natural goals of the Ticats entering each game.
“As a team we’re trying to score touchdowns and win football games, so if we’re successful on the field, the whole program is successful. To help in any way is huge.”
Asked about the lofty total in 2012 and the potential to improve on those numbers in 2013, Stala was confident in the ability of the team to produce.
“I don’t think those are numbers we can’t reach,” said Stala. “We’re going to continue to strive for better things, and I think we can surpass that total this season no problem.”
Tiger-Cats fans and the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization will certainly hope so, as every catch and every touchdown means not only Tiger-Cats success, but invaluable support for a very important organization in the Hamilton area.
