Dorado Stars swim into the future thanks to a $54,500 OTF grant

The Dorado Stars Swim Club recently received a $54,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The grant was officially presented at the club's annual awards banquet at the Caledon Community Complex in Caledon East. On hand were (l to r) Bianca Lankheit, representing MPP John Tory, Gail Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation's grant review team Halton-Peel, Dorado Stars president Eric McDougall and head coach Brian Kelly.

The Dorado Stars Swim Club can now look forward to continuing to develop national level swimmers thanks to a $54,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). At the Dorado Stars Swim Club's annual awards banquet, OTF volunteer Gail Grant and Bianca Lankheit from MPP John Tory's office joined the local swim club to celebrate the good news.

Tory, MPP for Dufferin- Peel-Wellington-Grey, was unable to attend and sent his best wishes. "This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant has no doubt increased the quality of programming being offered to area residents," said Tory. "It is great to see health and fitness being promoted within our community."

Eric McDougall, president of the Dorado Stars, is excited about the future of the swimmers of Caledon and surrounding areas. "We are proud to support the development of our coaching staff as well as bring in excess of $16,000 of equipment to the Mayfield Recreation Complex," said McDougall. "This investment in our community is important and only made possible by the grant provided by OTF."

"We are using this grant to educate our coaches and purchase equipment that will ensure not only more competitive swimmers but also promote a healthy lifestyle for our children," said head coach Brian Kelly.

The Dorado Stars Swim Club's mission statement is to provide appropriate competitive opportunities in the pursuit of excellence in swimming, in an environment dedicated to the promotion of sportsmanship, friendship, self esteem, and the achievement of personal goals. The swim club is a not-for-profit organization since 1979 that is proud to call Caledon home. With more than 70 competitive athletes and 30 sessional swimmers, the club is at a high point in its history.

"We survive through registration, fund-raising and the continuous volunteer hours logged by the parents of our athletes. Without grants like this from OTF and sponsorships, these children would have to look outside Caledon to swim competitively," added McDougall.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives $100 million annually from Ontario's charity casino initiative. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services and sports and recreation sectors. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation. org.