Every child deserves a chance, the Kamloops Y declared as it launched the Y Strong Kids Campaign.

The campaign is the largest fundraising effort by the local YMCA/YWCA outside of its annual Dream Home lottery.

“It positions the Y in the minds of people as a charity doing good work with, in this case, children, and worthy of people’s support,” said CEO Colin Reid. “It’s part of a bigger strategy of the Y to create a culture of philanthropy,” Reid said.

Norkam leadership students prepared breakfast for 80 campaign volunteers in a kickoff event on Thursday. The volunteers participate by approaching a total of 500 people — friends, family and business associates, for example — and ask them to consider donating.

The campaign encourages donations in support of specific activities to enrich the lives of children in families unable to afford recreational expenses on their own.

Donors can contribute a general donation or request that their contribution go to a specific children’s activity. A few examples: $20 gift provides a morning of child care for a family with two children; $36 teaches a child to swim; $300 sends a child to Camp Deka; $20 a month means a home and education for an orphan in Ethiopia.

Strong Kids is a national Y campaign, now in its second year of public appeal in Kamloops.

Last year, 60 volunteers spoke to 420 people and raised more than $50,000. This year, the bar is raised to $60,000.

But the emphasis is on connecting with the broader public rather than simply raising money.

“What’s most important is that we have a group of leaders who are going out and giving that message.”

For more information, visit www.kamloopsy.org. Or phone 250-372-7725.