Striking for Reena, an annual bowling tournament, has raised nearly $400,000 in total.
The donor: The Justein family
The gift: Raising close to $400,000 and climbing
The cause: Reena Foundation
Elaine Justein's sister Shari, who lives in a Toronto residence for people with intellectual disabilities, loves bowling and looks forward to her weekly game every Saturday.
She is such a fan of the sport that Ms. Justein and her brother, Steve, decided to organize a fundraising bowling tournament to support the Reena Foundation, an organization that supports programs for people with developmental disabilities and runs the home where Shari lives.
They started Striking for Reena, an annual bowling tournament, and will hold the fifth event on May 1 at a Toronto bowling alley. So far the tournament has raised nearly $400,000 in total. About 30 teams participate annually and each team includes people supported by Reena programs. Like the Justeins, many of the participants are family members of Reena residents.
"It just shows how much this one family member means to them," Ms. Justein said from her home in Toronto. Her other brother, Ron, also plays in the event along with several relatives. "We're so proud of the tournament," she added. "We call it the little event that could."
pwaldie@globeandmail.com
Paul Waldie