Ray Proulx, Chair of the AIA High Fives for Kids Foundation, has issued a challenge to the industry to raise funds and help youth-oriented programs the Foundation helps support in communities across Canada.

“We felt as a group that we had to do something different if we cannot rely on past events to generate revenue,” says Proulx, adding that in the past the Foundation raised $40,000 to $50,000 a year through golf tournaments and other industry events not held through 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That’s gone away, so this is the chairman, myself, challenging the industry.”

The Foundation focuses on contributing to initiatives aimed at helping children in smaller communities across Canada.

From helping with nutritional breakfasts to school supplies, and helping to support children’s food banks, the Foundation has seen requests rise over the winter, even as it’s traditional fundraising avenues have been squeezed.

So Proulx says he is asking distributors, the major suppliers, the jobbers, the service providers, the families connected to of AIA member companies to think of the High Fives for Kids Foundation and help with its fundraising so that it can continue to support those worthwhile charities that have requested its help.

As of this writing the Chairman’s Challenge has raised more than $5,000.

“Canada is tremendously challenged and we have received a lot more requests for donations from smaller charities across Canada. And we will be reviewing those in March and April to see what we can do financially to support them, but to do so we need to generate revenue.

“It’s not about how much you make as a donation. It’s about making a difference,” says Proulx.

“Any monies would help us. Our charity is no different than any others. We have some challenges. And I know that in the past, the automotive industry has a great heart and has always given to support the correct charities. This is their charity. We represent them and we are hoping that this message touches a lot of AIA members and family members and that they will make that contribution and help us make a difference.”

To provide an added incentive, CHAT Media, publishers of Jobber Nation and Indie Garage, will carry regular updates on the Chairman’s Challenge, recognizing those individuals and organizations for donating and providing an updated total of funds raised.

As noted, the early total already exceeds $5,000

AIA High Fives for Kids Foundation gratefully acknowledges the contributions to date and urges others in the industry to add their names to this list.

• Colleen Ouellette
• Guy-Olivier Potvin
• Ron Grieve
• Terry O’Brien
• Mevotech
• Raymond Proulx
• Baljinder Singh
• Wakefield Canada
• Specialty Sales & Marketing
• CHAT Media has also joined the list of donors to date.

For more information or to donate, visit https://www.aiahighfivesforkids.ca/