For immediate release, May 5, 2015.

CLICK and Vancouver Police Department unite to raise awareness for Inner City Kids Week

Fundraising goal of $75,000 to help combat child poverty in Vancouver

Vancouver, BC — CLICK (Contributing to Lives of Inner City Kids) and the Vancouver Police Department will launch 2015 Inner City Kids Week on Monday, May 11. The week aims to raise awareness and funding for a wide range of programs supporting children living in poverty in Vancouver.

This year, CLICK's goal is to raise $75,000, and the local charity is asking Vancouverites to say every child counts in our city by donating online.

British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate in Canada. Hundreds of children in Vancouver go to school hungry and lack other basics in life. Programs supported by CLICK provide inner city kids with nutritious food, as well as access to safe out-of-school care, literacy support, sports, arts and camps.

"Poverty is hurting children in Vancouver on a daily basis, and if we don't support them there's a much greater chance that many of them will fall through the cracks," says CLICK president Catherine Atyeo.

Janey Lee, a CLICK board member and teacher at an inner city elementary school, sees the effects of poverty every day. "Poverty puts tremendous stress on working poor parents and inevitably their children are affected in multiple ways — including by a lack of opportunities and lower self-esteem. But with support, inner city kids can believe in themselves and have as much potential to succeed as any child. I urge people to donate to CLICK and help our kids."

Starting at 1 p.m. on May 11, the kick-off will include the Pulling for Inner City Kids tug of war competition in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Newly named Chief Constable Adam Palmer and members of the VPD executive will start the event by taking on a team of students. Then high school students from across the city will be on the rope with their VPD school liaison officers, in a hard-fought, down-and-dirty contest for a coveted trophy.

CLICK will also host its annual fundraising reception and silent auction, Definitely Not a Gala, at Creekside Community Centre on Thursday, May 14, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

For the first time, the week will also include CLICK Conversations, an opportunity for CLICK and inner city partners to discuss issues, successes and opportunities in supporting inner city children and youth in Vancouver.

About CLICK

CLICK is a community-based, non-profit foundation launched in 2004 to help improve the lives of inner city children and youth in Vancouver. CLICK raises funds for programs and services that make a crucial difference to children and youth living in poverty — food programs, safe and enriching out-of-school care, literacy programs, arts and culture, sports and recreation, leadership and summer camps. Donations are directed to eligible programs twice a year, so funds flow continually to children in need. Because CLICK is entirely volunteer-run, administration costs are minimal at 5%, which means 95% of donations go to programs supporting inner city children and youth in Vancouver.