The mission of the Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity is to improve the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families… "when love is not enough."

Norm Clements established this Charity in 1990 in memory of his granddaughter, Jennifer Ashleigh Clements who died at age six months from a degenerative, muscular disease. Her younger sister, Danica, died in infancy of the same illness just two years later.

Interview with Norm Clements

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Norm Clements created his first sporting goods company in 1968. He called it "National Gym Clothing Limited". Originally working from the trunk of his car, the company has evolved into eighteen National Sports retail stores operating across southern Ontario today. In January 2005, National Sports was sold to Forzani Group Ltd.

Norm enjoys helping others. It's who he is. Helping others …"when love is not enough" is what he set out to do in 1990 after suffering the loss of his infant granddaughter. He is no stranger to aiding those in need and comes by this sterling trait as a member of a family filled with giving from the heart. His brothers and sister have served as missionaries in Africa and South America and his kindness to others range from assisting street children in Bolivia, sponsoring drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, to his local annual Christmas dinner for the community. He is a fine example of what one person's generosity can do to effect change in the world.

Children's Charity Nominated for International Humanitarian Award

His desire to help others through the creation of the Jennifer Ashleigh Children's Charity, allows us to act as a financial safety net - helping families when all other resources have run out. Every attempt to access support from government and other service agencies must be made by those families before JACC can consider their application.

An application does not guarantee our assistance. It guarantees careful consideration for financial aid by our granting committee. We aspire to help as many children and families as possible with our limited funds. Therefore only those we determine to be in crisis or with the most immediate need can be considered.

VOLUNTEER CORNER.....click here to meet some of our wonderful volunteers