Canadians: Help Turn a Dream Into…

OTTAWA — Imagine a realistic indoor village – complete with a bank, candy store, hair salon, pharmacy and working traffic lights – where special needs children can have fun learning life skills in a sheltered, safe environment. Imagine the tremendous boost to their social, physical and cognitive skills, not to mention their self-confidence and dignity.

You have just imagined LifeTown.

Now, imagine that by taking a few minutes of your time to vote, you can win half a million dollars for Chabad of Ottawa to build a LifeTown of their own.

It’s not your imagination: you can make this a reality.

The Aviva Community Fund of Canada, avivacommunityfund.com, run by Aviva Insurance, is sponsoring this special competition to fund ideas that will have a positive impact on the community. LifeTown of Ottawa is Idea #5715 in the contest, the brainchild of Dr. Yosef and Devora Caytak, directors of Friendship Circle of Ottawa.

“Ever since we started our Friendship Circle, it has been our dream to build a LifeTown here,” said Mrs. Devora Caytak. The genesis of their youth activities was in 1981 when they established a Jewish Youth Library in the basement of their home. In 1989 the Caytaks acquired a building, which today houses a Jewish Montessori preschool, Camp Gan Israel and Friendship Circle as well as the library. In 2006, and again in 2008, the Caytaks received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, which enabled them to hire the talented Sigal Baray as Friendship Circle Coordinator, with Mushky Caytak as coordinator of teen volunteers. Rabbi Dovid Hayes, Head Shliach, has given a great deal of support and guidance to the Caytaks’ youth activities.

Today, Friendship Circle of Ottawa serves over 40 families, and it is constantly growing. “Although Friendship Circle is primarily a Jewish organization, we never say no to anyone, regardless of religion or affiliation,” said Mrs. Caytak. “We envision that having our very own LifeTown in Ottawa will enable us to become a magnet for special children not only within our Friendship Circle, but from throughout the region. We are eager to be able to offer LifeTown’s unique, outstanding features so as to improve quality of life for these young people, their families, and the community at large.”

The Caytaks appeal to all Canadians to register with the Aviva Foundation and give their ten allotted votes per round to the LifeTown project, and to spread the word to friends and family. The second round of voting runs from now until November 5, followed by a third round which ends November 26. Afterward, the voting for Semi-Finals runs from December 2-15. To vote, click here (link)

Dear Volunteers, Friends and anyone that wants to help us win!

Please Vote Starting today at Noon everyday for 10 days! Ill be reminding

you everyday!
If you registered already skip to step 3. If you haven’t registered follow

Steps 1-4.

STEP 1: REGISTER: https://www.avivacommunityfund.org/users/registration

STEP 2: Check your email – click confirmation in your email (it may be in spam or in junk mail)

STEP 3: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf5715

STEP 4: Click like on the top of the page, and COMMENT- the more comments the more people notice us! Comment everyday!

STEP 5: FORWARD to 10 people and help make our cause WIN!!