Crescent Heights students give back to community with fundraising initiative

More than 10 years ago, Crescent Heights teacher Heather McCaig created a program to give her students an authentic opportunity to learn about leadership.

Through volunteerism and action she teaches her students to appreciate the value of community agencies in Medicine Hat. The partnership with the foundation has given more than $30,000 to charities in Medicine Hat and area over the past 10 years.

Every year the students need to pick a charity that they would like to sponsor based on the Vital Signs research done by the Medicine Hat Community Foundation. The students create an event to raise money for their chosen charity and present their work to a panel.

This year the panel was made up of city council members and Community Foundation members. The grand prize winner this year was the Nurture Pregnancy Support Centre. It received just more than $1,500 from the students and the Community Foundation.

Present to receive the cheque was vicechair Brenda Knodel, treasurer Keith Knodel and two directors, Ehart Buss and Beverly Buss.

The Champion Centre was the second big winner, receiving a little more than $600. The SPCA, Canadian Mental Health Association and the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank were also charities that were present and received money from the students’ initiative.