Dream Ball

Margaret Davies was a Social Worker for the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society from 1983 to 1998. She noticed that it was rare for any of these young people to reach their potential. Indeed, during these years, the norm was for one person to attend college or university every other year. She believed that one of the first steps in the "healing process" would be a week at a summer camp where the child would be "just a kid" - not just a Foster kid. Camp to these children is much more than a vacation. Needless to say, camp alone will not heal, but in conjunction with counselling, it certainly makes a difference.

Thus, Mrs.Davies founded the Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation to assist by giving these children life-enriching, positive experiences such as, music, hockey, or dance lessons combined with money for school trips which would further enhance their self-esteem. This has certainly proved to be true and is reflected in the number of young people attaining higher education and "breaking the cycle of abuse".

This group of women and men donated hundreds of volunteer hours to make a fundraiser a success, and it was! From sewing props to hanging decorations, obtaining items for the silent auction, to selling tickets - they did it all! The first Dream Ball was in 1994 and raised $15,000.00 and sent 45 children to camp.

The same dedicated group of volunteers performed their magic at the 2011 Dream Ball and raised over $50,000.00 for the children to attend summer camp. Over the last nineteen years the Foundation has sent 3,320 to summer camp for a total of $1,247,483.00 primarily through the funds raised at the annual Ball. This year will mark the 18th Dream Ball