Montreal Unites for Friendship

In unseasonably mild weather, The Friendship Circle’s recent Walk 4 Friendship drew more than 1000 participants and raised $430,000 to support its mission of continually cultivating friendships through their wide range of ever-evolving programming. Decked out in bright blue t-shirts, the walkers marched the symbolic 1.5 KM route around Hampstead Park allowing everyone to take part in the fun.

“We are truly awed by our community’s eager dedication and enthusiasm for the Friendship Circle,” said founders Rabbi Yosef and Sima Paris. “It is uplifting to see participants from such a broad cross-section of people joining together in a proud demonstration of community awareness, solidarity, and support.”

Rabbi Leibele Rodal expressed it best when he said, “What an emotional day to see how our network has grown and the amount of people that came out to show these families that they are not alone.”

“The response this year was overwhelming,” said Rabbi Dovid Russ, the Walk 4 Friendship organizer. “Not only from the families involved in the Friendship Circle, but from the entire community. They showed their amazing support through their participation and generous contributions.”

The day continued with fun activities and great entertainment including a fantastic BMX bike show by the Krusher Stunt Team, team building exercises led by Dynamix Group, and a performance by the Jeff Solomon Band.

Montreal Alouettes football player Moton Hopkins let a pep rally for the participants and volunteers for the Walk. “My relationship with my younger brother, who has special needs, is one of the joys of my life,” said the start defensive tackle for the Grey Cup champions. “Despite his challenges, he faces every day with optimism and excitement, and brings much pleasure to my life as he does for many others. It is a relationship that I treasure and why I am so partial to the mission of the Friendship Circle. Through their various programs, from cooking to hockey and the twinning of young people with children with special needs, they are making a difference in the lives of so many.”

The Friendship Circle believes that all people, regardless of background, deserve friendship. To this end, it has developed a wide array of volunteer-led programs at its facility for children with special needs, ranging from arts and crafts programs, martial arts activities, from hockey tournaments to basketball games. Another key initiative of the Friendship Circle is the Friends at Home program where pairs of teenage volunteers visit the homes of children with special needs each week providing parents with some respite while the child enjoys home-made fun with his/her teen friends.