Arran-Tara Elementary School hosts fundraiser for more than 20 years

For more than 20 years, the school’s teacher, Paul Bolton, has organized the elementary school flag-football tournament that is a fundraiser for youth.

This year, 48 teams of Grade 6, 7 and 8 students from 12 schools competed in three divisions.

Teams came from across the Bluewater school district as far away as Osprey, Markdale, Durham, Flesherton, Kincardine, Port Elgin, Southampton, Thornbury, Lions Head and more, to participate.

This year’s proceeds from team registrations and a school bake sale held on tournament day, will go to the “Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons Foundation”, that works with Community Partners to identify the most marginalized youth in communities and provide mentorship and exclusive opportunities as they pursue their post-secondary education and enter careers without any burden of debt.

Bolton, who first met Clemons on a trip to Kenya to help build schools said that, “Because his Foundation works with disadvantaged youth, we feel it’s a very worthwhile cause to support and donate to.  It also teaches the kids the value of paying it forward in life.”

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(L) Ashlyn Chiasson and Mackenzie Coleman

The winning teams were:

Macphail Champs

Pinball Clemons

Clemons, who served as general manager for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach. His no. 31 jersey is one of only four that have been retired by the Argos and he is also in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Today, Clemons who holds a degree in economics, is a motivational speaker and works with disadvantaged youth through his Foundation.  He has also partnered with Global Pet Foods and Air Miles for the “Show Us Your Heart” event.   Its goal is to raise money for homeless pets, rescue groups, and animal shelters across Canada through donations made at Global Pet Food stores.