This summer, Jarrett Best ran the Rise and Flow education through music summer day camps for underprivileged kids between 10 and 15 years old.
The camps are intended to boost the kids’ math, English and French abilities through a musical medium.
This winter, Best plans to add an after-school component to the Rise and Flow programming.
To help cover the cost of programming, Best accepted a cheque for $20,000 yesterday from the Telus Ottawa Community Board.
That was just one of more than 40 cheques handed out by Telus to local non-profit groups totalling more than $1.8 million.
Mayor Larry O’Brien accepted the donations on behalf of the entire city.
A municipal government can spend billions building a new transit system or a new outdoor stadium, but that does not create a strong city, said O’Brien.
“The other part of the equation comes from the giving — the philanthropy the we see,” said O’Brien.
