Rainbow Schools raise over $28,000 for Haiti Relief
Central Manitoulin Public School students Josh VanVierzen, in Senior Kindergarten, and Simon VanVierzen, in Grade 3, emptied their piggy banks and donated $500 to Haiti relief efforts in Rainbow Schools.
Rainbow Schools in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin have raised $28,573.66 for Haiti relief. The funds were collected over the past two weeks through donations by staff, students and parents/guardians.
“I would like to commend everyone for demonstrating tremendous generosity in a time of great need,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “With matching funds from the federal government, the impact of this donation will surpass more than $57,000. That’s an impressive contribution from our school communities in a very short period of time.”
“We have all seen the images from Haiti, the devastation and the despair. They have moved us to action and, from despair, has emerged hope,” said Director of Education Jean Hanson. “The lions share of these dollars will go towards Mission of TEARS to support the work that they are doing in Haiti. Some schools have also donated to the humanitarian aid efforts of the Red Cross and Free the Children.”
Director Hanson said she has been touched by the stories of compassion and caring in Rainbow Schools. “Some students brought in all of their savings to support Haiti relief,” she said.
Central Manitoulin Public School students Josh VanVierzen, in Senior Kindergarten, and Simon VanVierzen, in Grade 3, emptied their piggy banks. When asked why he donated his savings, Simon said: "I just had to let it go. I just couldn't keep it!” When younger brother Josh saw Simon empty his piggy bank, he did the same. The brothers donated a combined total of $500!
And a Grade 4 student from Adamsdale Public School, who had donated $500 of his birthday money and allowances to build a well in Africa last year, sent a donation to the school along with a letter that said: “Dear School: We had a trip jar that only had coins and our goal was to get $1,000 for our trip. But then me and my mom thought that our money should go to Haiti because Haiti is way more important than a trip. I hope this money will serve a person’s heart. Thank you. Sincerely, Garyson and Lynsey Benoit.” Their trip jar had $73.74.
The schools that raised the most money per student and staff were M.W. Moore Public School in Shining Tree, Central Manitoulin Public School in Mindemoya as well as Churchill Public School and Lockerby Composite School in Sudbury.
“Rainbow District School Board recently adopted 10 character traits that will be modeled, taught and expected in Rainbow Schools as we continue to make character development part of everything that we do, each and every day,” said Director Hanson. “Among those traits is empathy, and Rainbow Schools, through their generous contributions to Haiti, have demonstrated what it means to be active global citizens who care about the world in which they live. This is certainly a proud moment for our staff, our students, our parents/guardians and the communities that we serve.”
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Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 674-3171, ext. 7217.