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At last night’s Board meeting, Director of Education Susan LaRosa revealed that York Catholic students and staff raised an amazing $173,797.14 to help those devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti.
The donations were raised during York Catholic’s Loonie / Toonie Day for Haiti, held on January 21, when students from all 98 schools were asked to donate either a loonie or a toonie. Many students also sent in personal donations from their piggy banks along with hand-written notes:
“Dear children of the earthquake, I am so sorry you are in the earthquake and that many of you lost your homes, family and schools,” wrote Grade 2 student Maria. “This makes me sad and I will pray for you all to be better.”
Grade 1 student Adrianna emptied her piggy bank and donated an envelope with the words, “All my piggy bank ($7.23).”
Other schools organized lunchtime movie days, held bake sales, popcorn sales and sold pins and heart-shaped cookies to raise funds for Haiti. At St. Joan of Arc CHS, a basketball game to honour two students who recently passed away also raised a significant amount of funds.
Helen Pierre, wife of honourary consul Dr. Eric Pierre from the Haitian Consulate in Toronto, read a letter from her husband who said that, “The Haitian Consulate is deeply moved by the compassion being shown by so many people in our province and country,” and that, “Your attention to the plight of Haitians is immensely appreciated.”
Paul Calandra, Member of Parliament for Oak Ridges-Markham, who was also on hand during the presentation, noted that the Federal government will matching dollar for dollar moneys raised, and that this significant amount of money will provide up to 40 tractor loads of food for the Haitian people. Mr. Calandra also said that he will be reporting the amount raised by the York Catholic District School Board directly to the Prime Minister.
The funds will be sent to ShareLife and onto the Catholic Church’s relief agency, Caritas Internationalis. The funds will be used to re-establish damaged medical clinics in the country and provide food, shelter, clean water and supplies.
“By working together, our donations can now help to provide assistance to those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. We are extremely proud of the amount raised and we offer our prayers to the thousands of families affected by the earthquake,” said Director of Education Susan LaRosa.
Download the Press Release in PDF format