About us
The KIN Club of Russell was chartered on October 1, 2011 and we are very proud of the work we do throughout the township. Whether it is leading fundraising for community initiatives such as the new Russell Township Sports Dome, Storage Centre for Charities and Service Clubs, new “Welcome to Russell” signs, Poutmasters Fishing Derby, Catch the Ace lottery, giving scholarships to local schools, helping increase awareness for Cystic Fibrosis Canada or member development, the Kin Club of Russell is proud to help the community. Since our inception in 2011, we’ve helped raise over $5,000,000 for the community.
Our goal is to make a difference in your life and those around you and we welcome those special individuals who truly care.
Our Club and members are incredible leaders and have been recognized for many club and individual awards including; Outstanding Club, Hal & Elspeth National Service Award, National Public Speaking Award, J.P. St. Pierre Award, Ontario Volunteer Award, Bill Skelly Cystic Fibrosis Award, and the Lynn Stoliker Memorial Service Award to name but a few. We take great pride in developing leaders for today and tomorrow.
If you live in (or near) the Russell Township area and want to enhance your leadership competencies, communication skills and our community overall, we would love to hear from you.
Our current projects include:
Poutmasters Fishing Derby – Held Mother’s Day weekend in May. Poutmasters is a project for 350 – 400 attendees with everyone who catches a mud pout winning a prize. It includes prizes of canoes, kayaks and hundreds of prizes for children.
Catch the Ace Lottery – Our club runs the Catch the Ace progressive lottery (RAF1405978). One hundred percent of all funds earned go back to the community including Good Neighbours Food Bank (Embrun), Kin Club of Russell’s Storage Centre For Local Service Clubs and Charities, Osgoode Care Centre, Valoris Foundation, Victoria Quilts Canada and Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation. We have donated over $4,400,000.00 back to the township since we’ve started with this lottery.
Community Roast – Held at the end of November, early December to raise funds for large legacy projects. In December, 2018, “Roasted Doc à la Menard” raised over $30,000 for a potential new township aquatic facility. “Hairspray” took place November 30th, 2019, roasting Marie Claire Ivanski.
Welcome to Russell Community Signs – We have consulted and fundraised to erect two large Welcome to Russell signs on the east and west of our village.
Other Projects
Other projects our club has led or contributed to include:
Holiday Benefit Concert – Our club partners with singing sensation Tara Shannon each Christmas season to deliver a high end, professional holiday concert for all.
Russell Township Sports Dome – Our club led both the consultative process and the fundraising for the new Russell Township Sports Dome. With the great success and sponsorship of the Andre Phillipe Gagnon gala, raising $140,000 in one night, we raised $380,000 in just over a year to help ensure our sports dome was world class…just like our citizens!
Marchons Pour Jonathan Butterfly Mile – The Kin Club of Russell was a major lead in this project which raised close to $60,000 total to assist Jonathan Pitre with his challenges.
Russell Winter Carnival – held for three years in the village of Russell, led by our club.
RocKIN’ the Night Away – 50’s and 60’s dance held from 2012 to 2019 raising $25,000.
Fort Mac We’ve Got Your Back – The Kin Club of Russell was a major contributor to this fundraiser, raising $42,000 to assist first responders in the Fort McMurray area.
Bursaries – The Kin Club of Russell contributes to local bursaries every year for Russell High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. We also contribute to a national bursary, Kin Canada Bursaries, which help local students in post secondary institutions.
Kaiden’s Classic Fore Cystic Fibrosis – held from 2012 to 2016, earning $132,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research.
Kaiden’s Care Kits – our club raised and donated $35,000 to take a local project and introduce it nationally through Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Reality Tour – the Kin Club introduced this drug awareness program for the first time in Canada, running it in local schools from 2014 to 2019.
Father Daughter Princess Gala – held from 2017 to date
Trivia Nights – held trivia nights for several local charities and causes raising $30,000.00