Dreams Take Flight is a 100% volunteer based national non-profit organization created in 1989. A group of Air Canada employees in Toronto organized a trip that took 70 special needs children on board a DC-9 aircraft to Walt Disney World in Florida.
Fast forward to 1997, when the charity expanded to service eight cities across this great country; Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax each take a plane load of deserving kids to either Disneyland or Disney World for a once in a life time adventure.
2019 brings a special year for the Ottawa chapter, where we are celebrating our 25th year and hope to provide this trip-of-a-lifetime experience to 150 children that are facing physical, mental or social challenges. These children are nominated by several different children agencies across the National Capital Region including French and English, Catholic and Public-School boards, Boys and Girls Clubs, CHEO and the list goes on. The local sponsors and volunteers believe that we can make a major difference in these children’s lives by opening a window of possibilities without limitations.
Air Canada through the Air Canada Foundation donates an aircraft to each chapter for the day to fly the children to Disneyland California or Disney World Florida. We are grateful to our wonderful sponsors that donate services and products to our charity and money we raise throughout the year is used to pay for all the expenses for the children. This includes fuel for the aircraft, admission to the park, spending money, souvenirs, gifts and clothing to identify the children and their escorts.
By the end of this year, Dreams Take Flight will have taken well over 30,000 children to the happiest place on earth. There, they experience the wonders of friendship and magic. Our goal is to help them forget their troubles for one incredible day and to provide them with a lifetime of memories.
On behalf of Dreams Take Flight Canada and all our Chapters, I want to say thank you for participating in our inaugural Ride for Dreams Poker Run and wish you all a safe and fantastic ride.
Good Luck
Denise Raymond
President Dreams Take Flight Ottawa Chapter