Walk4Friendship: raising funds and fostering connections
Posted November 10, 2024 12:53 pm.
Last Updated November 10, 2024 6:40 pm.
The Walk4Friendship annual charity event was back Sunday, and people came together at the Friendship Circle in Côte-des-Neiges.
Participants raised over $415K for the non-profit organization dedicated to fostering friendship and inclusion for individuals with special needs.
“All the money fundraised at the friendship circle for the Walk for Friendship will allow us to fuel our programming throughout the year, our vocational recreational activities, Delamie Bakery, and it will allow us to create more inclusion to bring friendship and to bring acceptance and love and kindness to the broader community of Montreal,” said Refael Paris, Operations Director of Friendship Circle.
Families enjoyed a day filled with entertainment, inspiring speeches, live music from the Friendship Circle Choir and heartwarming stories of friendship overcoming challenges.
“Oh it’s beautiful to see how our community come along to such a beautiful cause and to support friendship circle is not just a program it’s really a family a community that we built and it’s beautiful to see everyone here today,” said Laure Sabbah, Volunteer for Friendship Circle.
Founded in 1994 in Detroit, Michigan, Friendship Circle International now boasts over 80 chapters around the globe.
Their distinctive approach brings together teenage volunteers and children with special needs, creating lasting friendships and offering hours of fun and support.
“Friendship matters because it comes from the heart I find and if you if you respect who you are you respect other people and you become friends,” said Dayna Wiseman, Participant Friendship Circle.
“Circle means a lot to me, I’m here with a lot of friends and I get into a lot of activities and volunteer work and I like that,” added Adam Kleen, Member of Friendship Circle.
The Friendship Circle in Montreal brings together more than a thousand volunteers who support over 400 families year-round through a variety of programs, activities, and their in-house bakery, Delamie.
“It is absolutely incredible to see so many people stand up for friendship and inclusion it’s humbling and it is great,” said Paris.
