Every child deserves a chance to believe; to have the dreams and goals that it takes to succeed in the world today. It is our responsibility, as a people, to help those in need, open doors for those who need a little guidance and provide a shoulder to lean on when times are tough. Our lives need to be dictated by not only taking but by giving; in the end both have equal value.

My personal motto of “paying it forward” comes from a couple of powerful personal experiences growing up in which people gave me the chance and the helping hand. They are reason the why I am where I am today and in a position to “pay it forward”; this is my gift in return.

The Emily Brydon Youth Foundation was created in 2006 with the goal of providing the youth of the Elk Valley opportunity and support through education, sport and the arts. The foundation has grown in leaps and bounds since its creation and I see no slowing down in the near future. Ultimately, I would love to see the EBYF and other community foundations come together to provide for all the needs of the youth in the Elk Valley.

My dream for this foundation grew from a seed that was planted more than a decade ago. It has been watered along the way through my life experiences and has now blossomed into this beautiful flower. It is changing lives and it is giving children hope, ambition, support and skills. The EBYF was initially created with a sport vision but it has grown with the needs of the community and valley into a foundation which provides such a diverse network of support it is hard to know where to begin.

Whether it is through the arts, education or sport, the importance of these childhood building blocks is equally important and I am humbled by their ability to teach and inspire. There is so much more benefit to these opportunities than what meets the naked eye; it is about teaching people life lessons and giving children tools which they will use for the rest of their lives. Every child is different and requires different stimulation in order to have fun, grow and learn. The EBYF supports unique, open-minded and diverse programs for the youth in the Elk Valley.

Since the inauguration of the EBYF in 2006 we have built up an endowment fund of $200,000 in order to guarantee sustainability and longevity. We have put back into the community over $100,000 through diverse programs, teams and individual needs. To date, the annual EBYF Golf Tournament has raised $90,000 and looks to have another successful year this year.

I invite you to become part of the EBYF family and help us to continually grow and provide youth in the Elk Valley opportunities that will be life changing.