Local CA to assist in Okanagan Sun education opportunities

The Okanagan Sun is taking steps towards improving educational opportunities for its players.

The junior football team has announced that chartered accountant Don Turri will be assisting with the administration of the club’s scholarship and bursary program that began in 2009.

Turri is a partner in the Kelowna office of Mackay LLP and is a director of the Central Okanagan Foundation and a member of Kelowna Sunrise Rotary.

Along with the appointment of Turri, the Sun has also announced the club scholarship/bursary program that began in 2009 will be expanded in 2010 with the assistance of the Central Okanagan Foundation.

Beginning in 2010, friends of the Okanagan Sun who wish to contribute to the club’s player educational assistance program will be able to do so through the COF and receive the benefit of a tax receipt.

One hundred per cent of the money donated to the Okanagan Sun scholarship/bursary program is directed to the fund through COF to assist Sun players attending either Okanagan College or UBC Okanagan.

Okanagan Sun president Les Weiss is pleased with the combination of the assistance of the COF and involvement of Turri with the Sun player education program.

“The Okanagan Sun has long been recognized in the Canadian Junior Football League as a model for a junior football program,” said Weiss. “Turning the page and now offering our players the ability to continue their post secondary education while they wear our jersey opens so many doors for both our players and our organization. I don’t think anyone can argue our athletes already play in front of the largest fan base, in the best city in Canada.

“Now they don’t have to slow down their education to play here.”

The Sun plans to continue to work to fund the team’s education program through the club’s second annual scholarship breakfast that will be held during the 2010 football season.

Weiss says providing the education opportunities is extremely important for the club.

“With the ability to now fund the program through the Central Okanagan Foundation, it will make it that much easier for our supporters to contribute to the success of the club,” he said.

“It’s now realistic to expect that we will be able to assist every player who wishes to continue his schooling while he plays for the Okanagan Sun.”

For more information contact Les Weiss at president@okanagansun.ca.

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