James Valitchka, author - Superheroes don't have dads

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DAREarts Awards Raises Over $100,000 for at Risk Youth

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Charles Pachter painting 'Moose Lake Pas de Deux" sells for $20,000

TORONTO (Marketwire) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

DAREarts honoured Karen Kain and Paul Henderson and six extraordinary youth at a joyful gala fundraiser at the Liberty Grand, Toronto, April 22nd.

With 500 in attendance, the evening is expected to have raised over $100,000 for the program, which helps at risk youth to raise their sights from the guns, drugs and gangs that pervade their world.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of the National Ballet Company of Canada, commended DAREarts for their innovative arts-focused program, and spoke passionately about her ten years as a DAREarts mentor. On receiving her award, Kain said, "The DAREarts Cultural Leadership Award has a special resonance for me. I've been involved in the arts all of my life, first as a student, then as a performer and now as an Artistic Director. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to both see and experience... the vital and irreplaceable impact of the arts on the lives of young people." "I'm immensely proud to be associated with an organization like DAREarts and proud, too, that the National Ballet of Canada plays a role in the vital and constructive work that they do in our communities."

Paul Henderson was delighted by the performance by 13 year old Robert Fraser Burke, who performed his runner-up entry to the Hockey Night in Canada theme song, as well as the opportunity to meet fellow honouree Karen Kain. Henderson's message to the youth in attendance was a resonating endorsement of the DAREarts values - Discipline, Action, Responsibility and Excellence. Henderson spoke of his commitment to being a leadership role model and helping others on their quest for personal excellence.

An evening of accolades and celebration - the stars were the six youth presented with DAREarts Leadership Awards who spoke eloquently and passionately about the role DAREarts has played in their lives and their hopes for the future. Recipients include Haminat Kehinde, Kelsey Bhatia, Mackenzy Willis, James Valitchka, Heting Christine Yu, and Marina Yesno.

"The last time I talked with Barack Obama..." began one of the stories James Valitchka astounded the audience with. Already a seasoned public speaker at age 14, James is also a published author, having penned his first book at age 9, titled "Superheroes Don't Have Dads". James told the audience about a youth conference he is organizing in Ottawa in May, Stand Tall and Speak Out - A Voice for Children and Youth, which will bring together at risk children from across Canada, including DAREarts youth from northern Ontario's aboriginal communities.

Marino Yesno, a grade 11 student and mother of two from the northern First Nations community of Webequie, described her goal of becoming a teacher and returning to her community as an educator and leadership mentor.

Marilyn Field, founder and director of DAREarts called the auction of a new Charles Pachter painting titled Moose Lake Pas de Deux "both an artistic and fundraising highlight of the evening - the realization of my idea to bring together three Canadian icons; beloved artist and DAREarts mentor Charles Pachter, international ballet legend Karen Kain; and of course, the majestic moose!"

Rex Harrington, former dance partner of Karen Kain, auctioned the painting for $20,000 to a DAREarts supporter. "I am so impressed with what DAREarts is doing, and the children I have heard from tonight, I am going to get involved too!" Harrington announced when he took the stage as guest auctioneer.

Other notable attendees included Mayor David Miller, a number of city councillors, including DAREarts board member Sandra Bussin, Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield, actor Ross Petty, National Ballet of Canada Executive Director Kevin Garland, past NBoC Chair David Banks, columnist and author Allan Fotheringham, prima ballerina and film producer Veronica Tennant, and Canada's National Ballet School Chair Judith Gelber.

DAREarts is a Canadian, not-for-profit charity whose arts education empowers 'at risk' children to become leaders. DAREarts' unique programs work with at risk 9-14 year olds in both 'inner city' and rural areas, including multiple Toronto Mega City areas. The children explore world cultures and history while they themselves paint, sculpt, sing, dance, compose, design, write, act and create, guided by arts professionals. The DAREarts programs also provide much-needed opportunities for children to discover how to express themselves in positive ways and to experience a broader range of activities beyond what is available to them. The children gain leadership skills by returning to their schools and teaching their classmates what they have learned.

Celebrating its 13th year, DAREarts influences over 10,000 Canadian children annually.

For more information on DAREarts visit www.darearts.com.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/MooseLakePasdeDeux1.jpg

TORONTO SUN, Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Next generation of superheroes
By LESLEY WRIGHT.

Peter Parker didn't have a dad. Neither did Bruce Wayne.

But that didn't stop them from obtaining superhero status as Spider-Man and Batman.

And it's not stopping 10-year-old James Valitchka, author of Superheroes Don't Have Dads, which has become a best-seller.

During a reading yesterday at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, the last on a long leg of talks, James captured the attention of one youngster.

Vice-principal Sharon White said she could hardly believe it when a pupil came into the room after the event, wrapped his arms around her, circled about and walked out.

White explained that the student comes from a fatherless home, is often disengaged, and rarely sits still, let alone ask questions.

"I think the whole book meant something to him," White said.

"I think that was actually pretty cool," said James, who wrote his first book at age 8 and has three more published works. "It just makes me feel glad that my book is helping people."

Book-smart Boy Wonder: BEST-SELLER: James Valitchka's a top author and speaker. He's 10.

The Province Newspaper
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Page: B6
Section: Unwind
Byline: Damian Inwood
Source: The Province

Vancouver whiz kid James Valitchka has done what it takes some people a lifetime to achieve.

At the tender age of 10, he's already a best-selling author, motivational speaker and anti-bullying advocate.

And tomorrow, he'll be in Winnipeg speaking to an audience of about 300 people at a Manitoba safe schools forum and 1,000 at a Literacy Convention.

"I started writing when I was about five," says Valitchka. "My grandfather had MS and I was really sad because he had been my best friend. And now I knew he might be dying, I was really sad."

The result was a book called I Love Grandpa, published by an Ontario-based, non-profit publisher which promotes children's literacy.

Valitchka, who lives with his mom baby sister, and new Dad sounds just like an average kid.

"I was having a lot of trouble at school being bullied and bullying others," writes Valitchka on the website. "I was very heartbroken and sad because I did not have a dad. One day I said to my Mom, 'It's okay because Superman did not have a dad, he lived with an adopted family, Batman lived with his butler and Spiderman lived with his aunt!"

With one book already under his belt, Valitchka wrote Superheroes Don't Have Dads when he was eight.

It became a national best-seller after selling 35,000 copies in the first year, he says.

"I was really surprised 'cause I knew my books could help people but I didn't know they would help people that much," he says. "So I'm just like, 'Whoa.'"

Last year Valitchka spent several months on a Canadian book tour, speaking to over 3,000 children.

Since his best-seller came out, he's written two fictional mystery books.

The first, Locked Up Mysteries, is a Hardy Boys-style adventure featuring four 9-year-olds with a clubhouse and PI badges who help police solve crimes. The second, Jess and Cade's Spy Missions, is about two pre-teens who solve mysteries.

He's currently working on sequels to both books.

"I like writing real life but fiction is really fun because you can let your imagination go wild," he says.

The books sell for $14.99 and Valitchka gets a percentage "which goes into my college fund."

Born in Halifax, he lived in Ottawa before settling in Vancouver.

That's where he had his problems with bullying, he says. "It was bigger kids picking on me and then me picking on other kids," he said. "I was angry and wanted to get even."

Valitchka says he doesn't get too fazed by public speaking.

"I had a few parts in school plays but I was sort of good at it," he says. "I went to Saturday classes for public speaking and and I have been going to them for the past two years."

Mind you, he admits to being a bit nervous about speaking before 1,000 tomorrow.

"I have never spoken to an audience that big," he says. "It's going to be a bit awkward but I will probably do well because I have been practising my speech for the past four days."

Because of his hectic schedule, Valitchka says he's being home-schooled right now.

"I miss some of my friends where I used to live before," he says. "I like playing soccer, basketball and swimming."

Like most kids, he likes video games but is only allowed to play his GameCube on weekends.

After Winnipeg he's off to Ottawa and Toronto where he'll speak at kids camps and community centres, as well as at the Brampton Library. He's also launching a free, online creative writing program for inner city kids in July.

"Sometimes my life is so busy, I wonder if I can go to regular school," he says. "But sometimes it's not so busy.

"It's a decision I will have to make."

Another day, another speech from Vancouver's James Valitchka: 'My Perspective on Bullying and Building a Safe Community in Schools'
The Province
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Page: B6
Section: Unwind
Byline:
James Valitchka
Source: Special to The Province

Excerpts from a talk James Valitchka -- the 10-year-old bestselling author of Superheroes Don't Have Dads -- will deliver tomorrow to the Manitoba Department of Education's Safe Schools Forum:

My name is James Valitchka and I am a 10-year-old best-selling author of Superheroes Don't Have Dads, but I was also bullied and was a bully myself.

Now I try every day to be a better person, but I still have good days and bad days, like all of you.

I may look really dressed up in this suit, but I have my Spiderman T-shirt underneath. . . . I am still a 10-year-old boy and this speech is 'My Perspective on Bullying and Building a Safe Community in Schools.'

When I use the word 'bully,' I mean a person that is important, but sad about something. I mean a girl or boy, a man or woman who needs understanding and help to change.

I believe that students who bully feel badly about themselves and others. They don't feel accepted and loved for some reason.

The key to stopping the bullying situation in my case was to find someone at school who would believe in me and not give up.

Bullies need help fitting in, they need consequences, and they need people in charge to ask the whole class and each and every student to sincerely:

1) accept,

2) include, and

3) try to understand the 'bully'.

'I am really just a kid like you'

By the time he was in second grade, James Valitchka was tired of being picked on, so he started bullying other kids. Then, he made a bigger life change. CAROLINE ALPHONSO meets the kid who turned his childhood troubles into a bestselling book.

By CAROLINE ALPHONSO

Saturday, July 2, 2005 Page F2

EDUCATION REPORTER

After being shoved, teased and called names on the playground, James Valitchka saw his Grade 2 year as "payback time."

He was bigger, stronger and now it was his turn to become the bully. When teased, he pushed back and made fun of other kids. At one point, he spent the day in the Principal's office.

But James is among the lucky kids, having escaped the viciousness of bullying. He switched schools, received advice on how to control his anger and turned his bullying past into a bestselling book for other kids.

"You know how you tell someone about something and you feel better," the 10-year-old author says. "It's just like that, but with writing for me."

In his book Superheroes Don't Have Dads, James tells his story through an eight-year-old boy named George. Raised by a single mom, George is angry because he doesn't have a dad. He is bullied and then becomes a bully. "When I was seven, I started getting into lots of trouble. There was this ball of anger inside me. It hurt me and I couldn't shake it. I looked everywhere for a dad," the books reads.

George eventually gets counselling and realizes that many superheroes didn't have dads either. He turned his life around. "Peter Parker -- you know, Spiderman -- never had a dad or mom. He lived with his aunt, just like I do sometimes! And Batman Beyond only had a mother."

James is reluctant to talk about what happened with his own father. In an interview this week, the usually chatty, articulate boy grows silent when the topic arises. "That's sort of a personal matter," he says. His mother adds: "People don't usually get that personal because he is only 10 years old," she says.

She doesn't want to talk about it either and points to James's book for the answer. In it, he writes "Maybe sometimes it's hard for people to do the things they're supposed to. My dad ran away from us because it was too hard for him."

James and his mom immediately steer the conversation to his achievements. Superheroes Don't Have Dads started off as a school writing assignment two years ago, got entered into a book writing contest and was then picked up by a small publishing company. More than 10,000 copies have been sold at independent bookstores across the country -- a remarkable feat for a young boy. Since then, James has published three other children's books, one about helping grandparents and the other two are spy and mystery books. He is working on two more this summer.

James is near the end of his book tour. He will take a break over the summer and then start travelling again in September. The Ottawa student, who just completed Grade 5 and will be moving to Brampton, Ont., shortly, takes a week off school every month to speak to children his age at libraries and schools across the country. He has a tutor and takes schoolwork on the road with him.

Most children are nervous when speaking to a large group, let alone their peers. James is no exception. Dressed in khaki pants and a blue shirt, he wiggles around in his chair as about 200 kids from Grades 1 to 5 filter into a classroom at Nelson Mandela Park Public School in Toronto's Regent Park earlier this week. As he speaks, his mom coaches him from the back of the room.

James encourages the students to continue reading over the summer months. He reads Superheroes Don't Have Dads, as well as another one of his books, to them. Then he takes questions. Hands shoot up. The students are curious to learn when James started writing, how he got his first book published, and even where he gets his ideas.

After they leave the room, one girl yells from the doorway "That was great." James's looks over at her and smiles.

Sharon White, vice-principal at the inner-city school, says that despite the students fidgeting on what was a humid day, she felt that many were inspired by James's success at such a young age. One boy who has trouble staying focused in school was so engaged that he wanted to meet James. "Obviously something that James said or the way he read the story made a personal connection to him and really caught his attention," Ms. White says. "That was really special because it showed the impact it could have."

Amid heightened concern over school bullying across the country, James knows his personal story will help him reach out to other students, and perhaps get them to change their behaviour. "I'm on the same page as them. I understand how they feel," he says.

His Mom, who is now re-married and has a daughter, recalls the difficult time in James's life when he was being bullied and then became the bully. At times, he didn't want to go to school. His self-esteem was low, she says. Not receiving much help for school administrators, she eventually pulled him out of the public education system and enrolled him at the Ottawa Christian School.

James is now happier in school.

Not wanting to stick out as he once did, James is unwilling to talk about his accomplishments around friends. "I just want to be treated like a normal kid, not have all these celebrity things," he says. Most kids at school, however, already know.

He and his mom decline to talk about how much he has made from the sale of his books, only saying that the money goes into an education account for James's post-secondary education. Interestingly, he doesn't want to enter the literary field when he grows up. Instead, he wants to be an engineer.

"My uncle is an engineer," he says, "and he's the closest I've had to a dad."

His love of reading, he says, likely comes from his mom constantly reading to him when he was younger. He sometimes gets in trouble for reading in class when he should be working.

As for setting out to write books, James has a hard time explaining how he gets his ideas. "I just sit there and throughout the day, I just let ideas go through my head," he says.

Superheroes Don't Have Dads, however, is a more personal story, some would say almost therapeutic for James. "I came home. I was brainstorming for ideas and I found one about my life, and I started writing it down.

"At that point in my life . . . I felt I was not accepted. I wanted to write a book that would sort of make me feel happy, even if it had a sad beginning. It was just like I wanted my life to have a happy ending."

Being a published author doesn't mean this energetic boy gives up being a kid. Sure, he'll work on his writing over the summer months. But he plans on attending sports camps as well.

He tells another audience that has come to hear him read at an event in Brampton, "You may think wow, but I am really just a kid like you. I love Game Cube, playing tag with my friends, most sports and especially Saturday cartoons."

Caroline Alphonso is The Globe and Mail's education reporter.

BRAMPTON GUARDIAN, JUNE 23, 2005
Brampton Library offers a Summer Reading Club
TINA DEPKO, Staff Writer

Kids looking for something to do this summer should visit the Brampton Library between June 27 and the end of August to check out its sizzling TD Summer Reading Club.

The program is ideal for children up to the age of 12.

Kids will love it because they get rewards for reading, while parents will be thrilled they are still reading during summer holidays.

"The purpose of the program is to encourage children to keep reading and to continue working on their reading skills when they are out of school," explained Cynthia Toniolo, manager of information services at the Brampton Library. "Without the program, some children get busy with other things and then as a result when they go back to school in September, it is sometimes difficult to pick up where they left off."

Kids interested in the TD Summer Reading Club can go to any branch of the Brampton Library and register for free. Upon registering, each child receives a cool kit filled with neat things, such as a poster and stickers. Library memberships are also available free of charge.

TD Canada Trust, who jumped on board as a program sponsor five years ago, supplies the summer reading club kits.

"Each year there is a different prominent author/illustrator who designs the kits," Toniolo said. "This year's theme is Blast Off, so the reading kit and all the materials all have an outer space theme."

Each kit also contains a reading log. When kids return to the library to check out more books, they can show a library staff member their log and receive a sticker for each book they have read. They also receive a ballot for a chance to win great weekly prizes.

Children who aren't old enough to read on their own are more than welcome to participate in the club with their parents' help, according to Toniolo.

"If they are young and are not reading on their own yet, it is perfectly appropriate for someone to read the book to them," Toniolo said. "The important thing is that the reading is taking place and the child has some kind of interaction with the book."

Special events and programs will also run at each of the four branches nearly every day throughout the summer. Some of the programs are age-specific, while others target a wider demographic.

"We will have performers, puppet shows, reptile shows, stories and crafts," Toniolo stated. "We try to appeal to different ages."

The summer reading club attracts 5,000 children each year, which is a high number compared to similar programs held at other Ontario libraries. This year's participation rate is expected to climb due to the library's partnership with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board.

"The Catholic school board has developed an independent summer reading program," Toniolo explained. "They are going to tap into the resources that we offer here for their students so they can conduct that program using our summer reading club booklets. They are also going to be holding some reading workshops here at the library, which will be open to the general public."

Toniolo encourages children to sign up for the TD Summer Reading Club to help fill the long summer days with great books and prizes.

"This is an opportunity for children to continue building their reading and literacy skills through the summer in a fun way," Toniolo said. "I think the children will enjoy it because they can read at their own pace."

The official kickoff for the program is on June 27 at 7 p.m. at South Fletcher's Branch, 500 Ray Lawson Blvd.

James Valitchka, a 10-year-old Brampton boy who is the goodwill ambassador for literacy and the author of Superheroes Don't Have Dads, will be at the event. Winners from Brampton Library's 2005 Writing Contest will also be in attendance to read from their work, answer questions from the audience and sign copies of their books.

For more information about the club, as well as a listing of the different programs and events running at the Brampton Library throughout the summer, check out the summer edition of the Brampton Library newsletter "Know it All" or visit www.bramlib.on.ca.

Book signing: Superheroes Don't Have Dads

Where: Toronto Women's Bookstore, 73 Harbord St.
When: 14 May 05 (3pm to 4pm)

The Toronto Women's Bookstore proudly announces book signing with James, a 10-year-old African Canadian Best selling Author!

Saturday, May 14th, from 3-4pm
Toronto Women's Bookstore
73 Harbord Street (southwest corner of Harbord and Spadina, 2 blocks South
of the Spadina Subway Station)
Free! All are welcome to attend, especially children!

James will be signing copies of his new book " Superheroes Don't Have Dads".

James is a young African Canadian boy who was being raised by a single mom in an inner city neighborhood. James was having difficulty in school and becoming very sad and frustrated about his life. James used reading and writing as a way of expressing his disappointment and sadness over not having a Dad. He also decided that he was going to make the right choices in order to feel good about it himself. James also regularly visits inner city schools and libraries throughout Canada promoting Literacy and encouraging children to read and write.

You can also see James on Breakfast Television on May 11th between 7:00am and 9:00am. James has won a National Award from Youth in Motion for innovation, leadership and achievement. Please visit www.Top20under20.ca for more details.

For more information call 416-922-8744

SHARE NEWS, TORONTO, MAY 19, 2005
www.sharenews.com

10-year-old wins Top 20 Under 20 award
By EDDIE GRANT

Ten-year-old Ottawa native, James Valitchka, author of Superheroes Don't Have Dads, was the youngest recipient at Youth in Motion's recent Top 20 Under 20 award presentations.

Explaining the genesis of his book, which became a national bestseller, he said he realized that Superman did not have a dad and lived with an adopted family; Batman lived with his butler and Spiderman lived with his aunt. Valitchka was motivated to write the story after experiencing problems at his school because of bullying and feeling downhearted because he did not have a dad. He has since gone on to write and publish four more books, all of high quality.

Valitchka is presently a Goodwill Ambassador for Literacy and started a program called "National Book Tour for Literacy", which focuses on inner-city schools. He spends four months of the year traveling across the country encouraging students to read and write.

The Top 20 under 20 Award is sponsored by ING Canada, ING Foundation and Bell Canada. It recognizes young Canadians who have demonstrated a significant level of innovation, achievement and leadership. Recipients receive awards of up to $1,500 to be directed towards their continuing area of study or training.

Among other recipients were Joshua Liu, 16, Shamin Mohamed Jr., 16, and Cheryl Perera, 19.

Liu of Scarborough is founder of the Student Mentorship Association Regarding Technology and Science (SMARTS) that runs initiatives to expose students to science and technology.

Mohamed started the Children's AIDS Health Program, a registered charity that engages teens in helping the plight of kids with AIDS around the world.

Perera has traveled to Sri Lanka as a volunteer to gain a better understanding of child prostitution and volunteered to act as a decoy in an undercover operation that yielded the arrest of a 40-year-old pedophile.

The keynote speaker at the event held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in downtown Toronto was professional athlete Orlando Bowen who spoke of what it takes to deliver excellence. Providing entertainment was Juno winning singer Sonia Collymore.

Young author kicks off kids’ summer reading
Press release

Who: Ten-year-old James Valitchka, author of ‘Superheroes Don’t Have Dads’ and recent winner of the Top 20 Under 20 national award honouring leadership and innovation. James has traveled throughout Canada speaking to more than 3,000 educators, parents and children on the topics of literacy, anti-bullying, reading and writing. .

What: Having conquered challenges with bullying, James is committed to helping other children overcome this issue. Raised by a single mother who imbued a love of reading, James began writing at five years old. He wrote ‘Superheroes Don’t Have Dads’ at eight years old. It’s the story of a boy being raised by a single mom, who is angry and sad because he doesn’t have a dad in his life. He is bullied and then becomes a bully before deciding to change his life and behaviour.

Where: James reads from his book ‘Superheroes Don’t Have Dads’ Monday, June 27 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Brampton Public Library, South Fletcher Branch, 500 Ray Lawson Boulevard. He speaks to Grade 3 and 4 students at Nelson Mandela Park Public School Monday, June 27 from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, overcoming obstacles and living a positive life. The school is located at 440 Shuter Street, Toronto. The events are sponsored by The Sutton Place Hotels. James books can be purchased by emailing jamesvalitchka@yahoo.ca as well as at the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, 416-922-8744 or www.womensbookstore.com

Why: James Valitchka is a Goodwill Ambassador highlighting the positive impact children experience through reading and writing.