CKNW Orphan's Fund Pledge Day

We make money available for needed equipment and services for children. Anything from a specially adapted tricycle for a spina bifida child, to emergency dental work for a child in pain or buying a computer for a child who is bedridden. We have funded horseback riding lessons for muscular dystrophy children, purchased hearing aids, eye glasses and even electric sports wheelchairs.

We respond to appeals from charities and organizations whose commitmentis to work for and with special needs children. Because of the generosity of CKNW's listeners and sponsors, the fund in addition to helping individuals and organizations has made other significant donations.

One hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) was spent to equip a cancer treatment lab at Children's Hospital.

An endowment was established to fund a UBC professor heading up research into the immunology of children's diseases. Endowments have been established at most community colleges, BCIT and the Open Learning Agency to provide bursaries for single parents students.

A fund has been established at SFU which provides one scholarship each year for a student from an income assistance background. It pays 100% of the cost of tuition, books, housing and other expenses for up to four years. There are students now at SFU in each of those years.

Project EX, administered by Britannia Community Services is funded by the CKNW Orphans' Fund. It is a leadership program that targets street kids, working toward their rehabilitation before these young people become statistics.

$60,000 a year is provided to camping organizations to provide fees for special needs children whose parents cannot afford to send them to camp.

The CKNW Orphans' Fund Pledge Day is an annual and traditional source of income. At the beginning of December each year the radio station turns most of the regular daily programming into a Radio Thon, where seasoned hosts tell the CKNW Orphans' Fund story, and ask their audiences for pledges. The Radio Thon also serves to thank those organizations who have been instrumental in raising dollars throughout the year through special promotions.