(L to R: Paul Stewart, Warriors President; Sarah Courtney, ALE General Manager; and Dan Crabtree, Warriors VP of Finance at the Bell Warriors AGM in 2020. Photo: Bell Warriors)
The pandemic has had a dramatic impact in our community. As individuals, parents, businesses, and in the case of non-profits like the Bell Warriors Football Club, all are affected in one way or another. Although hopeful to be in a position to offer football programs in the coming year, the Bell Warriors experienced huge financial shortfalls in 2020.
Recognizing the financial situation and perhaps demise of the football club, two long-time sponsors stepped up to lend a hand, ensuring the 66-year-old club could continue to operate.
To provide the opportunity for all youth to play football, the Warriors supply all of the required equipment needed and it is stored in climate controlled facilities at Primo Self Storage.
To this end, Paul Stewart, President of the Bell Warriors Club told us, “Chris Milosek, the President of Primo Developments Inc., has been a valued partner with the Warriors for more than 15 years. They donated a trailer to the club to store and carry our promotional items and game-day canteen supplies in 2013. They have sponsored player fees in the past, our most recent Bantam Leadership Award, and this summer, they chose to subsidize the storage of our equipment by more than $5,000“.
This generous contribution will help to continue the maintenance of the football equipment for when players can return to the field.
Currently, the football club’s friends and partners at The ALE, Amberwood Lounge and Eatery in Stittsville, are offering a Super Bowl Take-Out Special. A portion of all sales go to support the Bell Warriors Football Club! They are currently taking orders on the ALE website.
“The ALE General Manager Sarah St. Michael and Assistant General Manager Ben O’Neill have been integral partners with the Warriors over the years hosting our annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser, our Warriors Team Banquets and Silent Auctions, our Warriors Volunteer Appreciation Night, and Warriors AGM. This will be the second year that they have hosted this special offer fundraiser for our club,” highlighted Paul Stewart.
Stewart explained, “Our fees normally only cover approximately 45% of our budget so we always have work to do to ensure we find caring, supportive partners to help us continue to make our sport affordable and accessible. The ALE and Primo Storage have been amongst those partners and in times like these, the meaning of their support becomes even more important and more appreciated”.
The Bell Warriors Football Club stands for RESPECT-RESPONSIBILITY-DIGNITY-FITNESS-GENEROUSITY-LEADERSHIP. Since 1955, the Bell Warriors Football Club has offered football programs for boys and girls ages 8-23 in the communities of Britannia, Bayshore, Bells Corners, Richmond, Munster and Stittsville.
For more information about the Bell Warriors program, email president@bellwarriors.ca or check out their website at www.bellwarriors.ca.