10th Annual Joe Carter Classic 2019

Joe Carter with finalists

In June, the Joe Carter Classic celebrated its 10th annual event in support of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s Joe Carter Family Support Fund and Joe Carter Scholarships. For the last ten years, Joe Carter, Toronto Blue Jays baseball legend, has brought together avid golfers and top sports and entertainment celebrities to take part in this two-day golf tournament to raise funds to help support children and youth in and from the child welfare system.

Since 2010, over $1.75 million has been raised and committed through the Joe Carter Classic.

Thank you Joe, and everyone who participated in this exciting event to Stand Up for Kids and support our country’s most vulnerable young people, those who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing abuse and neglect.

At the event, the 2019 Joe Carter Scholarship recipients, Mercy, Chris, and Jean-Luc, were honored for their academic ambition and future goals.

Event attendees heard from Mercy about her lived experience in the child welfare system and the benefits that sup-ports like the Joe Carter Scholarships provide for young people in and from care.

Mercy is currently attending McMaster University for her Bachelors in Medical Radiation Sciences with a specialization in Radiography. She is considering medical school in the future, and uses her experiences to be a voice for other youth in care through her role as an Advisor for Hairstory and as a Youth Ambassador for Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.

Chris hopes to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate degree to pursue a specialization in psychiatry to help underserved communities receive the help they need.

“Often youth in care don’t have the support systems that other young adults do. They may not have family or other such assistance to help them achieve their goals or to be there for them if things don’t work out. It can be difficult in the current eco-nomic landscape to “make it” on your own. However, supports such as the Joe Carter Scholarship help bridge this gap and off er young adults an opportunity to better themselves… The impact that the donations have on youth in care is in-credible and undeniable. Many youths in care struggle financially to pursue their dreams and donations such as these let them become a reality.” – Chris

Jean-Luc has completed his undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Biology, focused on Research/Statistics and Neuroscience. He is now working on completing graduate-level studies in Human Resource Management and a diploma in Accounting & Payroll from Seneca College.

“Paying for education is getting increasingly difficult, be it a political matter, cost of living, personal responsibilities, and/or lack of opportunity to those without connections, and I have no doubt in my mind that youth-in-care and former youth-in-care would not have the opportunities to let their brilliance shine and help our society without the support of Joe Carter and the many wonderful scholarships that Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada brings. These scholarships are more than money; they are an indicator that people are there for our best interests and for us as human beings. They inspire and support students, families, and some of the future professionals of our world.” – Jean-Luc