| Local schools raising funds |
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| Local Content - Local News |
| Written by production |
| Thursday, 11 March 2010 16:51 |
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School fundraising projects across the region have helped generate over $10,000 for relief projects in Haiti. In response to the devastating earthquake which hit Haiti in January a number of schools initiated fundraisers to help provide funds to meet the immediate needs in the country including housing, food and medical supplies. A number of project were completed in time to be matched by the federal government while others are still on going. Some schools have even launched new projects to help raise funds for Chile which was also hit by an earthquake at the end of February. Sunnyside and Huntsville schools are working on a joint project, challenging each other to raise funds for rebuilding projects in Chile. It is part of the schools’ effort to provide their students with a global understanding of what impacts people around the world. Natasha Fairweather, Fund Development Coordinator for the local Canadian Red Cross, said the attention to Haiti’s plight has been dropping off in recent weeks but the relief work is still on going in the country. “We really saw the generosity of southern Alberta in the first month.” She was at Kate Andrews High School in Coaldale last Friday to accept a donation of $1,100 on behalf of the Marketing class. Fairweather had high praise for the student body who purchased the items sold by the class which resulted in the donation. She also praised the generousity of local residents who continue to donate to the Red Cross on behalf of Haiti. “It was just outstanding.” She said schools, churches, municipalities, companies and local residents came forward with all types of donations big and small. Even events there were already planned in the region took on a new focus when funds raised where earmarked for Haiti relief projects. “Everyone is feeling it,” she said of the impact of hearing news reports and watching the images on television and the internet. “Now we’re working with the rebuilding phase in Haiti.” She said funds are now being collected to help the relief effort in Chile. Lucy Johnson who teaches the marketing class at Kate Andrews said her students developed a business plan through the Junior Achievement program and set up a company to sell clothing to students at the school. Once their project was completed they liquidated their company and after paying their shareholders were able to realize a profit which was donated to the Red Cross. “They had a very successful year,” she said of the “Blue Door” project, the name the students gave their company. It was a success the students shared with the rest of the student body, giving them the credit for buying the items which led to the profit and the donation to the Red Cross. Rosie Templeton, V.P. of marketing and sales for the student company, said the students gained an inside perspective on how to run a business while also raising funds for a great cause. “It’s really a lot more complicated.” President Karleen Wall said she learned to be a leader and added it was an awesome feeling to know the students could contribute to the Haiti relief work through their purchase of hoodies, sweatpants, lanyards and baseball shirts. Other schools in the region raised funds for Haiti in a variety of ways. At Picture Butte High School a bake sale netted over $500 which was matched by the government for over a $1,000. St. Joseph school in Coaldale collected donations and raised $2,100. Students and staff at Jennie Emery Elementary School in Coaldale were encouraged to bring their change to donate and they raised $1,200. In Coalhurst the elementary school set up coin collection jars in each classroom, hosted bake sales and raffled off tickets to a hockey game and raised just over $1,550. At the high school students took part in the Hearts for Haiti campaign through World Vision Canada, hosted a bake sale and collected donations, raising over $1,200 which doubled to over $2,400 with the government’s matching funds. At Huntsville school in Iron Springs the students raised over $211 for Haiti and continues to support a child in Zambia. The school also recently raised funds for a building project in Kenya. Sunnyside school, who is joining Huntsville in a Chile fundraiser, also recently completed a read-a-thon to benefit the MS Society and raised $2,500. St. Catherine’s school in Picture Butte raised $240 selling candy grams for Valentine’s Day which were matched by the government for a total of $480. Students are also at work on a Lent project and a bake sale is also planned for Sunday, March 14, following Mass. |
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