Blais donating raise to help students get a good start to the day. Catholic School Board Trustee to Fund School Breakfast Program.

Orléans-Cumberland Catholic School Board Trustee Stephen Blais announced that he has donated the first portion of his 2009 Trustee raise to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the School Breakfast Program.

“Children who arrive at school hungry do no perform well in the classroom,” says Trustee Blais. “Studies have shown that students who are fed are more alert, develop greater self-esteem, have better attendance and have fewer discipline problems."

Trustee Blais’ donation of $2,500 will help the more than 11,000 students in 145 schools who use the School Breakfast Program every morning. The program provides funding for equipment, program monitors and food. Other objectives of the program are to teach and encourage children to make healthy food choices.

"The School Breakfast Program, now in its 21st year, is a wonderful initiative that has had significant impact locally. We couldn't support more than 10,000 students daily without the ongoing help from our volunteers and the generous contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals like Mr. Blais," explains Claude Haw, President and CEO, OCRI. "We are very pleased that Mr. Blais has chosen to make this donation to the OCRI School Breakfast program."

In it’s 20th year, the School Breakfast program is open to all children enrolled in the four school boards in Ottawa. Students may be identified by teachers, by social agencies or by parents who contact the school principal to enlist help. The philosophy of the program is that no child is turned away.

"I, as many of my colleagues, have seen the tremendous difference that a breakfast or nutrition program can make in the lives of the students and families we serve,” says Pat Morden-Lahey, Principal, Divine Infant Catholic School.

A breakfast could consist of: 1 juice or 1 glass of milk 1 piece of fruit AND 2 servings of whole grain bread OR 1 serving of cereal.

In his first year, Trustee Blais established of a yearly bursary to be awarded to a graduating student, in financial need, from St. Peter or St. Matthew High Schools in Orléans. The $5,000 donation to Carleton University was matched dollar for dollar by the provincial government through the Ontario Trust for Student Support for a total value of $10,000. The yearly bursary will continue annually in perpetuity due to the earned interest on the donation.

Last year, Trustee Blais donated his raise to fund cancer research through the Weekend to End Breast Cancer. A portion of Blais’ donation was matched by Scotiabank for a total donation value of $7,500.

“I believe in fiscal responsibility and during the last election campaign, I made a clear promise to give back to the community by donating the 150% raise trustees received,” adds Blais. “As an elected official, I believe it is incumbent upon me and my colleagues to help raise awareness of issues that affect our community and residents.”