Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 22 Nov 2012, p. 8

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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, November 22, 2012 · 8 Drew's Blues helps give teens a second chance By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It takes great perseverance and courage for a troubled youth to turn their life around -- and often it can't be done without a second chance. That is what the Drew Hildebrand Teen Benefit Fund (DHTBF) offers. To help more teens turn their lives around, the organization is hosting a fundraiser, the Drew's Blues Southern BBQ Benefit Concert, Saturday (Nov. 24). The evening will include a southern barbecue buffet and live entertainment by some successful blues musicians, two-time Juno Award-winners Fathead and Grammy Award-winner Sugar Blue, who was named the 2012 Chicago Blues Entertainer of the Year. "It's going to be an amazing night of blues, great food and great company," said organizer Kim Evershed, Drew's stepmom and co-founder of the DHTBF. The charitable organization is named in memory of the Oakville 16-year-old who was a turn-around teen, but died as a result of teen-on-teen violence more than four years ago. Since Drew's death, his family, including the Hildebrand, Simmons and Evershed families, have been working together to ensure as many turnaround teens in Halton and Peel regions get the second chance they need. "This has helped us with the healing and it keeps Drew's spirit alive every day. It's never easy, but we feel we're making a difference in Drew's memory," Kim said. "Supporting teens at risk is important to us, so we want to do as much as we can in his memory." Half the proceeds the organization raises goes to the DHTBF's It Takes Courage to Change Scholarship Fund for post secondary education. And, since about a year ago, the other half has gone to fund music and arts programming for children aged 12-18 years. The fund pays to provide free, afterschool arts, music, culinary, photography and media lessons to youths who are either SUBMITTED PHOTO PLAYING DREW'S BLUES: Two-time Juno Award-winners Fathead, pictured here, and Grammy Award-winner Sugar Blue, named the 2012 Chicago Blues Entertainer of the Year will be the featured entertainment at Saturday's Drew's Blues Southern BBQ Benefit Concert. For the first time, the group has added the concert as a fundraiser, which will take place at Gambrel Barn in Country Heritage Park in Milton. "Drew played guitar and was a music lover so we wanted to create a music event for Drew because of his love of music," Kim See Fundraiser page 10 presents h Saturday, Dec. 8tth at-risk or have a financial need. Kim said doing arts programming could help youths stay on the right path, and eventually lead them to graduate high school. Over the years, the DHTBF has been raising scholarship money through golf tournaments and a charity run. 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm · $20.00 2 Clearview Christian Reformed Church 2300 Sheridan Garden Dr., Oakville www.circleofharmony.ca Join Fred Rainville, owner and Charlene Abrahams, VP of Operations of Kidex Academy this Saturday November 24th for an Open House 10am - 2pm and a free Seminar at 2pm: JK/SK Full day learning, "Is this meeting the needs of your child?" Kidex is located at 3420 Rebecca St. Unit 11, Oakville or you can reach them by phone 905 827 7166

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