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What is "GO GARRETT GO?"
GO GARRETT GO is a fund raising initiative started by ten year old Garrett Holmes in the spring of 2010. People were asked to pledge a dollar amount for every touchdown Garrett either threw to someone (he was the quarterback) or scored himself during the spring 2010 Ontario Minor Football League (tackle) season (which ran from Mid may through to the first week of August: 11 games) as a member of the Halton Cowboys Atom team (in 2010, Atoms are those players born in 1999 or 2000 – Garrett was born in 1999). Garrett scored 15 touchdowns himself and passed for one more for a total of 16 touchdowns. People pledged $1,260 per touchdown, which multiplied by 16 touchdowns totalled…$20,352.
100% of all donations went directly to Children’s Miracle Network (the hospital of the donors choice ie: SickKids Toronto – Garrett’s choice since he was a patient there) or Free the Children, which was partnering with organizations in Haiti to provide emergency relief and to support rebuilding efforts.
What’s new for 2011?
Lots. For 2011 we’ve improved GO GARRETT GO – hopefully so we can raise more money!
The big news for 2011 is that this year Garrett is attempting to raise money in two sports at the same time. He is playing football and soccer this summer – so people can choose which sport they want to make a pledge for.
The second piece of big news is that we've changed the pledge format - instead of people pledging for every touchdown in football or goal in soccer scored by Garrett - people are being asked to pledge for every touchdown in football or goal in soccer, that his team scores (his football team is the Halton Cowboys, and his soccer team is the Burlington Stingers). But don't worry - just like last year you can still "cap" the number of touchdowns or goals your pledge applies to (to as low as 10). For example if you pledged $1 for every touchdown his football team scores, and put a cap of 10 on it you would end up donating $10 - even if the team scores 40 touchdowns - because your pledge only applies to the first 10 touchdowns. Same for soccer. So you can choose to "cap" at a variety of touchdowns/goals (10/15/20/25 - or no cap). And remember you are choosing to pledge for either soccer or football...not both.
The success of GO GARRETT GO last year was the result of a lot of hard work by Garrett...and his teammates, because football is after all a team sport. In recognizing this, Garrett wants GO GARRETT GO this year to reflect not only his commitment - but his teammates as well, since they worked so hard last year as well. That's why we've moved the pledges to represent team scores.
To help people determine how much they should pledge, last year Garrett's football team scored 27 touchdowns in 11 games for the season, and in soccer the team scored 40 goals in 14 games.
Some people may still want to focus on Garrett's perforomance as opposed to the teams - so to accommodate this also new this year is a "double-up" option - which means that in addition to pledging a dollar amount for every touchdown in football or goal in soccer his team scores - they will double their pledge for every touchdown Garrett either scores or throws in football, or gaol he scores in soccer (which won't be many as he is a defender in soccer). In football, last year of the 27 touchdowns his team scored - Garrett scored 15 of them. You can also put a "cap" on this as well.
100% of all donations go directly to Children's Miracle Network (the hospital of the donors choice ie: SIckKids Toronto - Garrett's choice since he was a patient there) or KidSport (the provincial chapter of the donor's choice), a national organization made up of 188 provincial, territorial and community chapters raising funds to help remove the financial barriers that prevent kids and youth from paying organized sport.
Why is Garrett doing this?
Four years ago (he was 7 at the time) in the early hours of the morning on December 25th, Garrett suffered a severe seizure. He had no prior history of seizures. He was rushed to Oakville Trafalgar Hospital where he was non-responsive for four hours. Soon after he became responsive he had another seizure and at that point it was determined that he should be moved to SickKids Hospital in Toronto. After transferring to SickKids Garrett stabilized and was hospitalized for about a week. The doctors determined that a virus attacked Garrett which his system simply did not like, causing the epileptic seizure. While they believed the series of seizures was caused by a "one-time" event (this wonky virus) - no chances were being taken and he was put on anti seizure medication for 2 years.
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News
CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS OF AN AUTOGRAPHED MATTHEW STAFFORD JERSEY AND 4 TICKETS TO A HAMILTON TIGER CAT GAME!!!
Oakville, Ontario - August 1, 2011
Congratulations to Loris Simeoni, winner of 4 tickets to a Hamilton Tiger Cat game and James Murphy, winner of an autographed Matthew Stafford jersey (quarterback of the Detroit Lions)!
WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED MATTHEW STAFFORD JERSEY OR 4 TICKETS TO A HAMILTON TIGER CAT GAME!!!
Oakville, Ontario - June 20, 2011
Make a pledge to GO GARRETT GO before midnight June 30, 2011 and you will automatically be entered into a draw to win one of two great prizes!!!
GO GARRETT GO HIGHLIGHTED IN NATIONAL POST!
Oakville, Ontario - June 9, 2011
GO GARRETT GO received some great coverage last weekend in the National Post. In the sports section there was a lead article on Damon Allen and his High School Quarterback Challenge – which referred to Garrett’s participation at the event (Garrett took part in a special ½ time event to raise money for KidSport).
As well, on the same page there was a separate article highlighting Garrett and what he is doing with GO GARRETT GO. On the next page was an ad urging people to go to www.gogarrettgo.com and pledge.
GO GARRETT GO ON TRACK TO RAISE $15,000!
Oakville, Ontario - June 9, 2011
Even though both of his teams are only three weeks into their seasons – based on pledges received to date – GO GARRETT GO is already on track to raise over $15,000!
GO GARRETT GO RAISES $2,500 AT DAMON ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL CHALLENGE
Oakville, Ontario - June 1, 2011
On Friday May 27th Garrett was invited to attend the Damon Allen High School Football Challenge – held at York University and featuring over 100 Ontario High School quarterbacks vying for a top prize of a three year university tuition.
GO GARRETT GO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 3 CUSTOM WARRIOR HOCKEY STICKS!!!
Oakville, Ontario - June 1, 2011
GO GARRETT GO today announced the winners of its second contest – open to those people who pledged before midnight May 31st.
PLEDGE BEFORE MAY 31ST AND YOU COULD WIN ONE OF 3 WARRIOR HOCKEY STICKS!!!!
Oakville, Ontario - May 24, 2011
GO GARRETT GO today announced its next contest to reward people who pledge!!
GO GARRETT GO THANKS TORONTO ARGOS, HAMILTON TIGERCATS, WARRIOR SPORTS, CFL, NFL CANADA AND THE JEWEL 88.5 FM, FOR THEIR SUPPORT!!!
Oakville, Ontario - May 24, 2011
GO GARRETT GO would like to thank the Toronto Argo’s, the Hamilton TigerCats, Warrior Sports, the CFL, NFL Canada and The Jewel 88.5 for their outstanding support of GO GARRETT GO this season.
GO GARRETT GO ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 4 AUTOGRAPHED MLSE JERSEY’S!
Oakville, Ontario - May 24, 2011
GO GARRETT GO today announced the winners of its first contest (open to all those people who pledged before midnight Monday May 23rd).
GARRETT INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN DAMON ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL QUARTERBACK CHALLENGE FRIDAY MAY 27TH!!!
Oakville, Ontario - May 23, 2011
Even though he is a couple of years to young to “officially” participate, Garrett was given a special invite by Damon Allen to attend and participate in the 2011 Damon Allen High School Quarterback Challenge May 27th at York University.
GARRETT SCORES 4 TD’s IN COWBOYS SEASON OPENER!!!!
Oakville, Ontario - May 21, 2011
A big opening day game for the Halton Cowboys, Garrett and GO GARRETT GO.
GO GARRETT GO PASSES $200 PLEDGED PER TOUCHDOWN & $60 PLEDGED PER GOAL!!
Oakville, Ontario - May 9, 2011
GO GARRETT GO had a big second weekend – jumping from $60 pledged per touchdown (football) & $32 pledged per goal (soccer) to $206 pledged per touchdown (football) and $66 pledged per goal (soccer)!
GO GARRETT GO THANKS ACCRETIVE ADVISOR FOR BECOMING 2011’s FIRST MVP SPONSOR!
Oakville, Ontario - May 9, 2011
GO GARRETT GO received a big boost today when ACCRETIVE ADVISOR signed on as an MVP Sponsor for the 2011 GO GARRETT GO campaign – pledging $100 per touchdown (with a 20 touchdown cap)!!!!
GO GARRETT GO THANKS SPORTS SPECIFIC TRAINING (SST) AND LARRY JUSDANIS FOR ITS “ALLSTAR” SPONSORSHIP!
Oakville, Ontario - May 9, 2011
GO GARRETT GO received a nice boost on the weekend when Sports Specific Training signed on as an All Star Sponsor for the 2011 GO GARRETT GO campaign.
GO GARRETT GO PASSES $60 PER TOUCHDOWN/$30 PER GOAL ON OPENING WEEKEND!
Oakville, Ontario - May 3, 2011
Yesterday GO GARRETT GO pledges passed the $60 per touchdown mark (football) and $30 per goal mark (soccer) – a great start to its campaign to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network, KidSport and GO GARRETT GO – thank you all those who pledged!
GO GARRETT GO ANNOUNCES EARLY BIRD PRIZES – PLEDGE NOW!
Oakville, Ontario - May 2, 2011
To help generate pledges in the early part of the campaign to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and KidSport, GO GARRETT GO today unveiled its first “early bird” prizes.
GO GARRETT GO THANKS MLSE CANADA FOR SUPPORT
Oakville, Ontario - May 1, 2011
GO GARRETT GO would like to thank Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) for providing prizes to help raise awareness of GO GARRETT GO in 2011.
2011 GO GARRETT GO LAUNCHES APRIL 25th AT SICK KIDS
Oakville, Ontario - April 21, 2011
supporting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Canada and the U.S., and new this year...KidSport - a national organization made up of 188 provincial, territorial and community chapters raising funds to help remove the financial barriers taht prevent kids and youth from playing organized sport.
GARRETT TO BE PROFILED DURING “SUPER CITIZEN AWARD WEEK” ON TVO KIDS – WATCH HIM LIVE APRIL 26th!
Oakville, Ontario - April 21, 2011
Garrett’s work on GO GARRETT GO was recognized by TVO Kids through his being awarded one of their “Super Citizen Awards”.
GARRETT NOMINATED FOR ONTARIO JUNIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD!!!
Oakville, Ontario - November 12, 2010
Garrett has been nominated for an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award for his work on GO GARRETT GO!
SUPERBOWL HOST COMMITTEE FEATURES GARRETT AS PART OF "SLANT 45" COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM!!!
Oakville, Ontario - November 12, 2010
The North Dallas SuperBowl Host Committee (the organizing committee for the Dallas SuperBowl) was a great supporter of GO GARRETT GO this past summer. They donated two tickets to the SuperBowl Host Committee Gala (part of SuperBowl week) which GO GARRETT GO gave away as a prize to the person who had the highest individual pledge (it
was $100 per touchdown!).
GARRETT WINS TVO KIDS SUPER CITIZEN AWARD!!!
Oakville, Ontario - November 12, 2010
Garrett has won a TVO Kids Super Citizen Award!
GO GARRETT GO FINISHES SPRING 2010 SEASON - RAISING $20,352!!!!! THANKS TO SUPPORTERS!!!
Oakville, Ontario - August 16, 2010
Thank you to everyone who supported, pledged and followed GO GARRETT GO. Thanks to you GO GARRETT GO managed to raise $20,352 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and Free the Children.
FINAL PRIZE WINNERS - 2 TICKETS TO SUPER BOWL GALA, TEAM CANADA HOCKEY JERSEYS, $200 GIFT CERTIFICATE!!!!
Oakville, Ontario - August 15, 2010
GO GARRETT GO is pleased to announce that it is providing a prize to the person who made the largest individual pledge over the course of the campaign - a pledge that helped a lot ($100 per touchdown) - that person is Gloria Smith.
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