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Thursday, October 27, 2005 Toronto based registered charity Reach for the Rainbow has been integrating children, teenagers, and young kids with disabilities and special needs into camps across the Canadian province of Ontario since 1983. Ontario has one of the most summer camps on earth. Over 750 participants were provided with 1:1 support. They enjoyed being integrated into regular summer camps and daycamps across Ontario. This includes being placed in over 60 camps and daycamps. Reach for the Rainbow began with the vision of several people including my father David Neal, who's Program Manager ;the head of the program side of the organization at Toronto's Ontario Place  It's a major attraction and entertainment area built on land made up of soil from the construction of Toronto's extensive subway system. Here they would run "Reach for the Rainbow" days raising awareness on the importance of integrating children with disabilities into regular camping experiences. Toronto born world famed actor John Candy was a part of these founding days. Since then Reach has blossomed into what it is today supporting the hundreds of participants as well as year round work placements, recreational placements in swimming lessons among other events. Their fundraisers include an annual golf tournament in Georgia, U.S. as well as the 4th largest ball yearly in Toronto The Crystal Ball that raised in excess of 1 million dollars in support of their intergration work in 2004. This year's Crystal Ball called Russia With Love featuring one a stunning computerised auction, cigar lounge, multi course meal, lavish prizes, balloon busts and much much more. Up and coming Canadian singer of Hamilton, Ontario Ben Somer who was a counsellor and worked with Reach for the Rainbow in the cottage country of Ontario in Haliburton at YMCA Camp Wanakita. Along with other Canadian artists including A Northern Circus, Craig Cardiff, Alive and Living and Hawksley Workman to name a selection of them. The collection of music created by an all Canadian cast of music artists celebrates Reach for the Rainbow and Canadian music. The CD can be purchased in stores across Canada, from the United States and Europe through MapleMusic.com Here you can also purchase from an array of Canadian artists from coast to coast, take some time and take a look at the assortment of music and talent. All proceeds of the CD will go directly to Reach for the Rainbow as Somer and others donated their time to compile this celebratory CD. Income tax reciepts can be issued. Donations of products for The Crystal Ball and money donations can be made in the How Can I Help section of their site. Teague Neal blogged on 5:00 PM
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Teague Neal |