President Jeromy Ball and Ross Tyson, District Governor, recognized the Union of Northern Workers and their partnership with Rotary in the Kids Ahead Program. On September 18 District Governor Tyson presented Todd Parsons, President of the UNW, with a Paul Harris Fellowship, the highest award the Club can make to another organisation.
The Kids Ahead Program is a healthy snack program for grade one children at Mildred Hall and Weledeh Schools in Yellowknife. Educators have long noted the difficulty in keeping children on task for learning when they are hungry or under-nourished. The Kids Ahead program is offered daily at both schools, and helps ensure kids are more ready to learn because they aren't hungry.

"Over the past 5 years, the Yellowknife Rotary Club has welcomed the partnership with the Union of Northern Workers", said club President Jeromy Ball. He continued, "Their contribution has underwritten the cost of the healthy snack program, which has made a big difference in a lot of kids' lives and learning." The principal motto of Rotarians worldwide is "Service Above Self", and with this award, Yellowknife Rotarians are recognizing the membership of the Union of Northern Workers for their commitment to this same ideal.

Union of Northern Workers (UNW) President Todd Parsons said, "We enjoy our partnership with Yellowknife Rotary, as the Kids Ahead program fits right in to our mandate to serve not only workers, but the broader community, especially youth and those less fortunate." He added, "The UNW recognizes the need to be a community partner in developing a healthy, educated and socially responsible workforce for the future." The UNW is a generous contributor to programs in communities throughout the NWT.