Who We Are

The founder of Rachel's Kids Development Fund is Dr. Rachel Navaneelan, a local dentist in Cornwall. Dr. Rachel initiated a charity auction and garden party to be held in her backyard garden to raise funds to assist victims of the Tsunami. The aim of the fundraiser was to bring awareness and to raise money to benefit underprivileged children in Sri Lanka, her native country. Some of these children were orphaned and/or displaced due to past ethnic disturbances and many others were orphaned and displaced due to the Tsunami tragedy on December 26th, 2004.

Dr. Rachel had been financially contributing in the past to the best of her capability in a small way to support these children. It had been 4 months since the Tsunami and the initial Tsunami assistance had already faded and the children had been forgotten. Very little or barely any support had reached the children post Tsunami. There was no social benefit or unemployment benefit programs in existence in Sri Lanka, children of parents who lost their livelihood to the Tsunami were experiencing the same fate.

Dr. Rachel promised if the fundraiser proved successful, her intention was to make this an annual event where half the contribution would be made to local charities, mainly to benefit children in the community, and the remainder would continue to go towards projects initiated overseas.

Thanks to the compassion and generosity of the communities of Cornwall, SD&G and Ottawa, the event proved to be a huge success. Dr. Rachel kept her promise. With volunteers efforts and the continued support of our local community we continue to hold the Annual Garden Party & Auction, Annual Have a Heart Gala, Sponsor A Child Program, and most recently a New York City Bus Tour.

95% of all funds raised go directly to the children.

Our Mission
Rachel’s Kids is a charitable organization supported through community contributions, corporate donations and the time of volunteers, which seeks to aid impoverished, neglected and abused children as well as numerous education initiatives, including awarding scholarships and building schools. Rachel’s Kids also integrates with other aid organizations in order to improve the lives of children in need both locally and globally.

Founder/Chairperson

Dr. Rachel Navaneelan

Vice-Chairperson

Michael E. Turcotte, B.Sc. Hons. D. Ch.

Secretary

Cindy Piquette

Treasurer

Shawna Flaro

Directors of Fund Raising Activities

Michelle Contant

Gillian Oxley-Harper

Consultants

Helen Dawkes Brown

Thomas Heard