Benefit Concert for GO! International

So, the CAS group has been helping raise funds for GO! International throughout the year. This time was no different, where a group of us volunteered to help Amanda Furst with her benefit concert at the West End Cultural Center on April 29th. I've been to concerts at the WECC before, but this was definitely a unique experience. Lexi and I were one of the first volunteers to arrive, and we volunteered for the ticket booth. As we waited for doors to open (or for us to open the doors,anyways) we perused some of the art that Westwood students made and were auctioning off. I'm always so blown away with the talent and creativity of some fellow students, and this time was no different! There were paintings, jewelry, and sculptures- needless to say that the silent auction tickets were selling fast!

For Love of the Arts

In February, Westwood Collegiate hosts a huge event featuring all its art students; choral, dance, visual arts, etc. While I'm not one myself, I definitely love to go out to support all my talented friends who are showcased. The day of the event however, I was hanging out in the library with a couple of friends when the principal, Mr.Wake, and Mrs. McCorquodale-Bauer (one of my favorite people, ever) goes in and asks for volunteers for 50/50 tickets. Naturally, I say yes for two reasons; one, I can never say no and two, I've never actually sold 50/50 tickets!

YIP, Coming Right Up....

You know when something is so big you don't know where to start? That's why I really haven't blogged about Youth in Philanthropy yet, since it's been such a large part of my high school career but I'm trying to put my experience into a reasonable blog post! Anyways, while you wait for that particular post...here's an article that was done in The Manitoba Teacher's newspaper a while back. A few quotes are taken from the lovely YIP convener Joanna Fultz as well as Yours Truly...

Certificate of Recognition: Premier's Volunteer Service Award

To my amazement, I received an envelope from the government of Manitoba the other day. Being a supposedly nondescript high school student, I was slightly worried about its contents. But to my disbelief, my two volunteer coordinators at St. Amant Centre nominated me for the Premier's Volunteer Service Award. This is a prestigious award for outstanding volunteer work within the province. Though I wasn't a final recipient, I still received this certificate of recognition. Though I don't volunteer for praise or recognition, this was still a very nice surprise to get in the mail!

Movember

Movember.

No, this was not a typo. This is actually a month-long event in November dedicated to raising awareness towards prostate cancer research. Ironically, a group of us girls got together and decided to do just that; raise both money and awareness within Westwood Collegiate. With such high statistics, (1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime) we wanted students to be aware of something that may affect them (in the guys' cases) or someone they know sometime in life.

Freeing the Spirit, Fulfilling Potential, Together: Volunteering at St. Amant Center

This post should really have been up ages ago. Long before those other ones, even. I've been volunteering with St. Amant Centre since I was in grade 8. Coming from a Catholic elementary school, community service has always been a large part of my education; long before the hours counted to an IB diploma or college scholarships. Thus, St. Amant was a perfect place to start what is now a near 4-year biweekly tradition.

Haunted Halloween Fundraiser



The Canteen

Basically, the Haunted Halloween Fundraiser was a Halloween "party" for elementary kids were they could come and participate in activities such as cookie-decorating, pumpkin weight guessing, a haunted maze, etc. for a couple of hours. The entrance fee was a simple donation that would go towards the orphanage (our CAS goal for the year). Considering all the parts that went into this event, I believe it was both the Creativity and Service part of CAS. Creativity was found in creating halloween-themed events appropriate for young children, and Service is, of course, taking into account all the time we spent; not only for the actual event, but for organizing, setting up, taking down, etc.