Kensington, PEI -
The 2009 Canada games are one step closer to fulfilling their funding requirements.
The Prince Edward Island Potato Board has signed on as a Malpeque Level sponsor of the games, pledging $25,000.
"With such a significant event here on PEI we decided to take the opportunity to participate in that," said Greg Donald, general manager of the potato board.
"The potato industry is one of the more significant industries here on PEI and certainly we're proud to be part of the community here."
Donald made the announcement during a visit to Kensington's Queen Elizabeth Elementary School recently, where the board donated money to that school's baked potato program.
Joseph Spriet, president of the 2009 Canada Games, was pleased to hear about the announcement for his organization.
That local organizations and individuals continue to find it in their budgets to donate to the games is a great indication of the amount of support Islanders are pouring into the project, he said.
Though he declined to comment on how much out of the $7 million target was left to be raised, Spriet did say fundraising was "doing OK."
"I don't want to leave anyone with the impression that we're done, but we are comfortable were we are at this time," he said.
"It's been more of a struggle recently of course, but that's pretty easy to understand, the last 10 months have been tough around the country."
For their part the potato board is just pleased to be part of such a major undertaking. It's also a great opportunity to show off PEI potatoes to the rest of the country, said Donald.
"It's a great opportunity for us to promote potatoes, particularly PEI potatoes, because we think they're the best in the world," he said. -The Journal Pioneer
