When you apply for local scholarships, people know you, and they want to support their kids and their community.

Our kids need to really concentrate on the little ones. If you have $500 here and $1,000 there, it really adds up.

I personally think it's harder to get scholarships today than it was five years ago. Money has gotten tighter.

Sometimes, I don't think people realize how much cooking we do for kids.

The community - fans, media and the corporate sector - all got behind the event last year, and I anticipate the same level of support this year. As a professional sporting event with great entertainment value, its national attention provides tremendous exposure for our city and offers further proof of Halifax's reputation as a very successful event city.

The community ? fans, media and the corporate sector ? all got behind the event last year, and I anticipate the same level of support this year.