“A great breakfast for a great cause” once again sums up the sentiment of more than 200 guests and attendees at this morning’s 7th Annual Breakfast For Champions charity breakfast gala. Together, we raised more than $12,365 in support of Brant Food For Thought and student nutrition programs.
A big “Thank You” goes out to all our amazing community sponsors: Investors Group, Platinum Title Sponsors Glenn Gaudet and Kevin Reid, Gold Sponsors, New Covenant and VIA Rail Canada, and new this year, Silver Sponsor, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union. This year’s Table Sponsors included Millards, Sonoco Canada, Dwayne D. Budgell Funeral Home Limited, West Brant Window World, Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic District School Board, Grand Erie District School Board, Grand Erie Elementary Teachers’ Federation and FirstOntario Credit Union.
St. John’s College Culinary Arts students, led by teacher Tom Mercante, served up a delicious hot and cold market style breakfast buffet, complete with hot waffles, muffins, fresh fruit, berry yogurt parfaits, breakfast ham, western omelettes and homestyle oatmeal with fresh berries. “A good breakfast fuels you up and gets you ready for the day!”, tweeted one guest. “Now this is what I call a great breakfast,” tweeted Shawn McKillop, Manager of Communications and Community Relations at the Grand Erie District School Board.
Brant Food For Thought would like to thank all our generous food sponsors for their contributions: Burnbrae Farms, Strodes BBQ & Deli, Lococo’s Hamilton, Dave’s No Frills, Forte Produce, St. John’s College, TreeHouse Private Brands, Assumption College and Birley’s Coffee Service. A special thank you to Better Living Essentials, Lifetouch Canada, 21st Century Signs and Spence Print Solutions for their contributions.
A stroll through the venue foyer would reveal several artistically crafted Silent Auction baskets, courtesy of local school nutrition programs, businesses and friends of Brant Food For Thought.
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Photo courtesy of Eileen McCusker-Korczak of Lifetouch Canada Coral Adlam speaking with mother, Nadine Adlam by her side.
Guests were treated to words from our youngest attendee, 10 year old Coral Adlam, Grade 4 student at Agnes G. Hodge Public School. Coral has volunteered at the school breakfast program since kindergarten. She candidly shared her experience as she volunteers with her mother Nadine. Her strong leadership skills shine through as she tells how she organizes her student peers with jobs and tasks to facilitate the breakfast program. Coral chops, preps, fills the bins and cleans them too. Coral has often remarked to her mother during the early morning shifts, and this quote sums it up well. “It’s ok Mom; I can do it myself. You go do something else. I have the kitchen under control.” Thank you Coral for making a difference in your school and for being such a great example to all young students in our community.
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Photo Courtesy of Eileen McCusker-Korczak, Lifetouch Canada Charity of Hope Committee present cheque for $5,000 to Brant Food For Thought.
Members of the Charity of Hope Brantford committee were also on hand for the morning, dressed in their logo aprons, and helping Tom Mercante and his students. Mercante also serves as Chair of the Brantford chapter. The Committee presented Brant Food For Thought with a cheque for $5,000. This brings their total to $10,000 this year in contributions to support student nutrition programs in Brantford and Brant. Thank you Charity of Hope for giving the gift of good nutrition and bringing hope to students for success in school now and for the future.
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Photo courtesy of Eileen McCusker-Korczak of Lifetouch Canada; Highest Bidder of Live Auction Prize – VIA Rail Canada Trip for (4) to Québec City, Québec
The team of auctioneers from Adesa Auctions—Kitchener and Brampton locations–fired up the Live Auction in fine fashion. Items included: VIA Rail Canada trip for (4) to Québec City, Grand Experiences Group and Family Trips, Golf North package for (4) with cart, Gardener’s Eden package courtesy of Paris Central School, Smakdab! Pottery & Pizza Experience, and Grand River Dinner Cruise For Two.
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Photo courtesy of Eileen McCusker-Korczak of Lifetouch Canada; Keynote speaker, Chef Tracy Winkworth of Liaison College Southcoast, Brantford
Feed Your Passion–that is the life motto of keynote speaker, Chef Tracy Winkworth from Liaison College Southcoast. Self-acclaimed foodie since childhood, Tracy grew up knowing where food came from and how good it can taste. Today’s busy lifestyles and urbanized communities have allowed families and their children to drift away from good wholesome meals and fruitful conversations shared around the dinner table. Owner and instructor at Liaison College Southcoast located in Brantford, Winkworth shares her talents, experiences and passion for helping young adults prepare healthy and wholesome meals from scratch.
“I want to thank the New Covenant pastor and congregation for allowing us to host this event in their beautiful facility”, said Gisèle Budgell, Program Director of Brant Food For Thought. “Once again, your in-kind gift is so greatly appreciated. I also want to commend our breakfast event committee, all the local schools, businesses and community partners who have contributed in any way to the success of this annual event,” continues Budgell. “Our many sponsors are very supportive of the work that we do in this community. We sincerely appreciate your generosity. Thank you once again for making a difference for the children and youth of our community.”
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