Comedy fundraiser yuks up money for English schools
An adults-only comedy night coming up next month is more than a fun night out — it’s also an important fundraiser for English schools in the West Island.
Organized by the Pearson Educational Foundation, the April 20 comedy show at Lakeside Academy in Lachine will raise money to benefit schools within the Lester B. Pearson school board. The show is hosted by Darren Henwood and will feature comics David Pryde, Reese Turner, Wassim El-Mounzer and Shirley Whalen.
Each year, the Pearson Educational Foundation distributes $200,000 among schools in the Pearson school board, funding lunch programs for hungry kids, purchasing robotics kits and iPads for classrooms, investing in programs for children with special needs, and even buying snowsuits and boots for families who can’t afford winter gear.
Foundation president Barbara Freeston said even schools in the board’s wealthiest neighbourhoods have turned to her organization for help to buy supplies for children in need.
“When students show up in November, when it starts to get cold, with a flimsy jacket or a jacket without a zipper or they’re not wearing boots because they don’t have winter wear, the teacher can tell the principal and they’ll get in touch with us to tell us what size they need,” Freeston said.
“It shows up like magic in the principal’s office a few days later. This year, we bought 75 snowsuits and 75 boots. Last winter, it was 102 snowsuits and 98 boots. It goes up and down a bit because many of these things will last for two years.”
Co-ordinator Sue Grand said the Pearson Educational Foundation’s comedy nights have become the organization’s biggest fundraising events. Last year’s fundraisers, in March and November, raised $6,000 and $9,000 respectively. Grand said organizers hope next month’s event will raise even more.
“We really need it. We need to support these schools,” Grand said. “Not everything ’s paid for by the government. I don’t know if people know that.”
The Pearson Educational Foundation is a registered charity. Although it is fully independent from the Lester B. Person school board, its only mandate is to raise and allocate funds to help students in the classrooms within that board. Unlike local home and school organizations, the foundation can issue tax receipts for donations.
Freeston said many parents don’t realize that when they make a donation to the foundation, they can specify how the money is spent.
“Most parents want to help their school rather than the system, but you can donate to your school through the foundation,” Freeston said. “Grandparents can donate towards the education of their children through the foundation and get a tax receipt.”
Donors are able to earmark funds for specific purposes as well. For example, Freeston said one donor established a fund specifically to fund cooking programs for children with special needs. There are also dedicated funds for the hungry kids program, which provides lunch for children in need, and the snowsuit program.
The Pearson Educational Foundation’s Comedy Benefit Show is April 20 at Lakeside Academy, 5050 Sherbrooke St. in Lachine. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 7 p.m., with beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks available for purchase. For more information, visit pef.lbpsb.qc.ca or call 514-422-3000, ext. 37000.