Young volunteers helping charities help children
Youth in Philanthropy give money to local organizations
By Jolie Toews Jan. 1, 2009 |
Five local charities will have some extra money in their pockets come June thanks to some volunteer work by a group of students at Miles Macdonell Collegiate.
The school’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) group will give a cheque for $1,000 to five charities it has chosen that focus on providing needs for children, such as food and reading material.
Grade 10 student Luke Lazaruk is one of the members of the YIP group. He says the experience has taught him great responsibility.
“You’re given $5,000 and you get to decide who needs money. I had really great ideas where the money should go,” said Lazaruk.
“It really opens your eyes to reality.”
At the beginning of the school year, The Winnipeg Foundation gave $5,000 to each of the 23 YIP groups in Winnipeg, said Megan Tate, YIP co-ordinator for the organization.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people to have a voice in what’s important in the community,” Tate said.
The second-largest community foundation in Canada, The Winnipeg Foundation has distributed more than $200 million from donors to charitable organizations since it was established in 1921.
The group at Miles Macdonell researched local charity organizations and those it felt needed the money and would put it to good use. The group chose to focus on under-privileged children. In March, the Miles Mac YIP group broke up into smaller groups and went to visit some of the organizations it had selected.
Lazaruk said his group chose Union Gospel Mission, Camp Quality, Camp Manitou, Flora House and Child Find Manitoba.
After The Winnipeg Foundation wraps up its background checks and gives the OK, Lazaruk said it will contact the groups and tell them they will receive the money.
Lazaruk and his partner recently visited Union Gospel Mission. He said the mission sponsors kids to go to camps, provides them with food and runs sports clubs.
One of the reasons he liked the organization is because it focuses on the core of Winnipeg.
“That’s their backyard,” said Lazaruk. “It was shocking to see these homeless people coming to receive food.”
Lazaruk said Union Gospel Mission told him and his partner that the organization would likely spend its donation on food.
