CLICK is very pleased to introduce our new president, Brenda Penton. Brenda has served on CLICK’s board of directors since 2010 and is chair of CLICK’s Fundraising Committee. She succeeds CLICK’s immediate past president Jaclyn Tsang.
A long-time east Vancouver resident, Brenda has worked for many years as a deeply committed advocate and volunteer supporting Vancouver’s inner city children and youth. Having served many years on Parent Advisory Councils in two Vancouver inner city schools, she has seen firsthand the effects of poverty on families. In 2002 she received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and in 2012 the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her community service.
Given the reality that one in five children in Vancouver lives in poverty, Brenda is keenly aware that CLICK is needed as much as ever.
“As the community works through these difficult times, CLICK is determined to continue its work of finding funds to support the many grassroots programs that offer new and exciting ways to support the kids who need it most,” she says.
In the coming year, Brenda will lead CLICK’s totally volunteer organization to work towards a milestone goal: $1-million directed to programs supporting children and youth living in poverty in Vancouver.
Since CLICK launched in 2004 as a grassroots community foundation, its hardworking team has directed $825,000 to 530 different programs.
“From its inception, CLICK has been there for those organizations in Vancouver that are working hard to give inner city kids opportunities to succeed in life. I look forward to continuing to build the bridges between donors who want to help and the programs that offer critical support for the kids who need it,” says Brenda.