Our History
Our History
motionball is the brainchild of three best friends – who also happen to be brothers.
The motionball concept was hatched in the fall of 2001 over a few drinks at the Bier Market in downtown Toronto. While enjoying the patio, Mark, Sean and Paul Etherington deliberated as to how they could make a greater impact on Special Olympics Canada (SOC), a charity they had supported since childhood.
The Etherington brothers’ association with Special Olympics grew out of years of volunteering at Special Olympics events created by their parents, Brian & Kirsteen Etherington who, along with David Garard and Bruce Etherington, co-founded the Sports Celebrities Festival, which has raised in excess of $25,000,000 for Special Olympics since 1983.
Brian has since Chaired Special Olympics Canada and has recently created a Foundation for SOC with a goal of raising $40,000,000 to endow Canadian Special Olympics for years to come.
What grew out of the brothers’ first meeting was motionball, a charitable organization that is designed to introduce a new generation of supporters, sponsors and volunteers to the Special Olympics movement through integrated sporting and social events.
In order to make this concept a reality, the Etherington’s enlisted the support of a diverse and enthusiastic young Board, drawn from their friends and colleagues in Toronto’s professional community. With varying and complementary backgrounds, knowledge and skills, the Board shared a common interest in giving back to their community and a commitment to helping those less fortunate.
