Students from Reynolds secondary school were recognized for “changing the world with a giving heart” on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 8 for their work sending kids with cancer to camp.
The students raised just shy of $110,000 for Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock in October.
Eight student representatives from Reynolds’ principal’s advisory group attended an awards presentation at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
“These are students who work to make Reynolds a better place, organize assemblies, meet with guests and prospective families. They’ve really become a group of ambassadors,” said principal Alana Charlton. “These are eight people who have always worked very hard on the Cops for Cancer campaign.”
Charlton, who retires this January and plans to return to the school as a volunteer for 2013 Tour de Rock fundraising, had no idea that the final amount raised would climb so high.
“I think the difference this year was the powerful connections the school made as a community with the whole purpose of the campaign,” Charlton said. “There was just a strong human connection to the cause and the purpose and it was a profound sense of our school coming together for something better and that we could make a difference.”
In the week leading up to the awards presentation, four class representatives from Grades 3 to 6 at St. Margaret’s junior school prepared their acceptance speeches and when it came time to accept their philanthropy award, they had their cue cards ready.
St. Margaret’s was honoured for their support of the Children’s Health Foundation, for which they have donated more than $26,000 over the past 18 years through fundraising events such as their annual rocking chair Rock-A-Thon challenge.
“It’s the entire junior school,” said teacher Natasha Carville. “Every single girl comes back with at least one (pledge).”
The National Philanthropy Day recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of others. The annual event is presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Vancouver Island.
nnorth@saanichnews.com