PLEASE DONATE

Making a donation to a registered charity such as TOMA is a wonderful way to fully enjoy the true meaning of helping out disadvantaged burned children. What better way to celebrate the Foundation's 10th anniversary than to give the gift of help and hope to these brave youngsters.

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WINMAR

TOMA is pleased to announce that WINMAR, property restoration specialists operating throughout Canada, have chosen us as their Corporate Charity for the third year and we are very proud of this relationship. 

Their Owen Sound office hosted the Tour for TOMA on June 23rd 2007and TOMA was represented by Co-founder Gilles Mercier while WINMAR Corporate was represented by Debby Matz along with several franchisees. The event surpassed the $ 10,000 raised in 2006 by having raised, so far, $ 10,863.65 with more to come. As usual, Jacinda, Kevin and all their volunteers did a magnificent job. We are looking forward to a long and lasting relationship with these caring and involved professionals. Covering Canada to serve their customers, WINMAR has 39 regional Disaster Recovery and Restoration offices standing by; visit their website at: http://www.winmar.ca

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Trenton Crafters Guild

TOMA, is again, for 2008, the Trenton Crafters Guild's chosen Charity. The Guild's first annual event was held at the Knights & Columbus Hall in Trenton on May 3rd and was, as in the past, a resounding success. We had a great time and visited with many of our close friends. The Foundation was represented by co-founder Gilles Mercier who accepted a $ 500.00 donation from the Guild.

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SUPERSHOW 2008

Once again, TOMA was present at SUPERSHOW 2008 held this year on Jan. 4th, 5th and 6th at the International Centre in Mississauga. Hundreds of our riding buddies and friends dropped by to get their 2008 TOMA RIDE flyer and pledge sheet and were be greeted by volunteers of the Red Knights Chapter One-Toronto and Fourteen-Hamilton as well as Jim Friend, President of Red Knights Hamilton Chapter and by Jenna, David and Michel, our TOMA volunteers. The event was a great success and we are looking forward to the Spring Show.

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The 25th Annual Pumpkin Festival was another great success in 2007 and TOMA was proud to have been a part of it. We met many old friends including Chief Bill Brewer and several of his men along with our good friend Wayne Walker. TOMA was represented by Gilles Mercier.

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London Western Fair

The Fair ran from Sept. 7th to Sept 16th and TOMA had another very successful year in London. The Foundation was donated $ 50.00 dinner for two at the "Top of the Fair" restaurant to be raffled at the TOMA RIDE for Burned Kids on Sept. 23rd 2007.

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Paris Fall Fair

We had a most enjoyable five days at this regional Fair during the Labour Day weekend. The event was a success and we are thankful to D.A. Campbell Amusements for allowing us to do burn prevention and education at this Fair. TOMA was aptly represented by our volunteer Jenna and our co-founder Giles Mercier.

Buzz and Tom's Poker Run

 The TOMA Foundation was again chosen, in 2007, as this event's Charity and we were very well received by both Buzz and Tom. Although it did rain a bit again this year,  the Poker Run was a great success and we had a grand time with all the Riders and passengers.

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Dundas Cactus Festival

As in the past years, this three day event in Dundas proved to be a great success.The weather was gorgeous and gave the Foundation the opportunity to renew acquaintances and meet many local donors. TOMA's was very aptly represented by our Co-founder Gilles Mercier.

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F.F.A.O. 2007

TOMA was at the Firefighters Association of Ontario Convention that was held this year in Blyth, ON. We were invited to attend on Aug. 4th and 5th and a great time was had by all. We are most grateful to all donors who helped make this weekend such a success.

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C.A.F.I. 15th Annual Golf Tournament

TOMA was the grateful beneficiary of the proceeds of the 15th Annual Golf Tournament of the Canadian Association of Fire Investigators that was held at the Cardinal Golf Club in Newmarket on July 4th 2007. C.A.F.I. members raised a very impressive $ 7,500  for the Foundation with a commitment to match this amount in 2008. CAFI President Ian Daunt handing Gilles Mercier the cheque can be viewed here. Our deepest thanks also go to Alexandra Sandes, Ian's Assistant and Gilles Mercier's personal driver for the day. She toured the golf course selling raffle tickets which raised an impressive $ 2,020.00

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Kitchener - Waterloo Muster

This year again. TOMA was at the Kitchener-Waterloo Muster where we met new neighbors and renewed many old acquaintance. A great time was had by all.

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Toskan Casale Foundation

The TOMA Foundation was chosen as one of the grass root Charities to benefit from the Toskan Casale Foundation's "Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI)" program. TOMA was one of 120 Charities to receive a grant of $ 5,000. Presentation of the award was made to Gilles Mercier, Co-founder at the Ontario Center for the Arts in Toronto on May 24th 2007. Students from Pickering College volunteered for TOMA as a prerequisite to the award and they were the ones who chose TOMA as their Charity of choice. Visit the Foundation's website here.

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Hamilton Emergency Preparedness Day

Thanks to Jim Friend of the Hamilton Fire Department, it was a pleasure for TOMA to be present at this special yearly event held at Bayfront Park on May 12th.  We were pleased to have such a great day and to spend some time chatting with John and the ladies of WINMAR's Hamilton office. The event was a great success for TOMA and we are looking forward to next year's event. Picture

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Spring SuperEvent Motorcycle Show 2007

The TOMA RIDE for Burned Kids was present, again this year, at the Spring Motorcycle Show which ran on April 14th and 15th. Riders could complete their RIDE registration form at the event.  We are most grateful to our Volunteers for having made this event such a great success. This year, Caylan Climson and Paige Gellineau of Pickering College lent a very much appreciated hand to the event. Our kudos to both of them as well as our volunteer Jenna Vandraanen and our agent Donna Lewis.

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Belmont Polar Bear Dip 2007

 Our good friend Tim Beer (Firefighter at  #1 Station-Straussberg- Kitchener) with the help of his new wife Jennifer Gwalchmai, put together another very successful event which was held on April 7th at Little Beach in Port Stanley. TOMA is their chosen Charity for 2007 and we are most grateful for their support.

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Toronto Motorcycle Show

The TOMA RIDE for Burned Kids had a booth at the Show on Dec. 8th, 9th and 10th and it proved itself to be, once again, a huge success. We had help from Jenna Vandraanen, a TOMA volunteer, as well as Jim Friend of the Hamilton Fire Services and several other of our friends and associates. We were on hand to pass out Burn Prevention and 2007 RIDE information. We renewed acquaintances with many friends and handed out close to 1,000 2007 RIDE flyers and pledge sheets.

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Burlington Fire Department Open House

TOMA was the invited Charity again this year at the Burlington Fire Department Open House held on Oct. 1st. We were pleased to have such a great day (their 15th year without rain !!!) and to renew acquaintances with old friends such as Capt. Ben Rotsma. The event proved very popular with both parents and kids and displays put on by the Burlington Fire Fighters and students of Humber College were a great success.

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The Alliston Potato Festival was another great success in 2006 and TOMA was proud to have been a part of it. We met many old friends including Chief Dan Heydon of the New Tecumseh Fire Department and several of his men along with our good friends George and Sandra Cote. TOMA was represented by our Volunteer Jenna.

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Armed forces Day - CFB Borden

What an experience this was for TOMA... We spent four days on Base and thanks to the unbelievable cooperation and support of Base Command (Col. Moore, LCol Bailey, Maj Kurtzer and Capt. Guilbault.) the event was a very successful one for the Foundation. Not only were we able to do our burn and fire prevention presentations to the visiting population but we also got to see a fantastic Air Show (that lasted three hours) with the Snow Birds and Sky Hawks as the stars. Our deepest thanks go to CFB Borden Base Command, the Canadian Armed Forces and a special vote of thanks to Capt. André Guilbault for his help and cooperation. See the pics here.

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Canadian International Motorcycle and Extreme Sports Festival

This three day event was held, for the first time this year, in Markham on June 16th to June 18th. TOMA made many new friends and acquired several new sponsors for its upcoming 4th Annual TOMA RIDE for Burned Kids

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2006 Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs Convention

For the seventh year, TOMA was the invited Charity at O.A.F.C. held this year at the Toronto Metro Convention Center on May 8th and 9th. The event was an awesome success and it was great to renew acquaintances with many of the  Provincial Fire Chiefs. Our good friends at WINMAR were also there and represented by Debby Matz. Also present at the Convention was The Lighting Company who do all our TOMA RIDE route lights. It was a pleasure seeing Ken and Sean Watling again. See the pics here

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Fort Erie Motorcycle Swap Meet

Thanks to Shawn McCooey, TOMA was at the Fort Erie Motorcycle Swap Meet on May 1st and we met many friends. Pics can be viewed here.

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BEETON Firefighters Association

This year, TOMA benefited from the efforts of the Beeton Firefighters who organized a sit-down breakfast on Sept. 17th during the Fair.  Net proceeds from the successful event  where given over to TOMA by Barry Tibbitts, the Association President. PICS

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