Pointe-St-Charles football team for low-income kids reaches fundraising target

A Montreal minor-league football team that caters to low-income families has reached its fundraising goal for a new bus. 

The Pointe-St-Charles Aces are a not-for-profit team. For more than a decade, their organization has focused on getting children from low-income families off the street and into sports.

This year, their aging bus finally conked, and the team surpassed its $5,000 target to buy a new one through a GoFundMe campaign.

"The whole point of our organization is to keep them out of trouble, and keep them off the streets," said head coach Victoria Tibbo.

"We can do that at the home games, but to be able to get them to the away games, if we can't do that, then they'll sit at home and cause trouble."

Tibbo added that many of the parents either don't drive or don't have vehicles, making it difficult to carpool the players to away games.

• No more joiners: Why kids are dropping out of sports

No player turned away

The Aces were founded by a Montreal police officer who noticed there weren't many low-cost sporting activities for children in Pointe-St-Charles.

Since then, the Aces have ensured any kid who wants to play – regardless of their parents' financial situation – will be given an opportunity.

The team relies on donations, but supplies its players with equipment and uniforms.

Team member Conner McAleer said he looks forward to practice every week.

"It's fun," he said. "I get to be quarterback and I like playing."

Lisa Dow's sons have played for the Aces. She said the experience they get playing with other kids is invaluable.

"One ball brings all of the community together. That's what I love about it," she said.