Group donates $15,500 to Sierra Club Wild Child P.E.I.
Sierra Club Wild Child P.E.I. is the most recent recipient of a donation from 100 Women Who Care P.E.I.
The group voted to present the organization with a cheque for $15,500 following a presentation by Hannah Gehrels, programs co-ordinator, that displayed her passion for environmental education programs for kids.
Two other popular and welldeserving charities presented their stories vying for the evening’s donations of $15,500 as 155 members offered donations of $100 each.
Tracey Comeau, executive director of QEH Foundation, spoke of the obligation of her group to constantly fundraise for 100 per cent of equipment needs of our local hospital. State-of-the-art equipment means the medical teams at the QEH are “changing outcomes and saving lives.”
The third presentation was by Marcia Carroll, executive director of P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities, which also offers valuable programs dedicated to promoting the full participation and inclusion of disabled Islanders.
A spread of only three votes among the three charities demonstrates the compelling stories
of these three local charities and it demonstrates the financial needs required to deliver their valuable programs.
Sierra Club Wild Child P.E.I. offers two programs. The Nature Immersion Progam provides one- to two-hour sessions free to early learning centres and after-school programs, and Forest School is where families can
enrol their children of all ages. Both environmental education programs give children on P.E.I. the opportunity to get to know and grow to love nature.
Gehrels informed the group that studies have proven outdoor play supports healthy whole child development, helps strengthen the immune system, encourages physical
activity, improves mood and coping skills and can stimulate critical thinking and awareness. She says that activities such as learning to climb trees teaches children self-regulation around risk and gives kids the capacity to deal with emotions… skills that computer screens, TV and video games don’t develop.
The $15,500 lump sum donation
will supplement the financial contributions from United Way and the Rotary Club to allow Wild Child P.E.I. to pay qualified staff to run the Forest School programs and provide subsidies to families who require it.
Gehrels was overjoyed with the donations, saying “my whole organization was so excited to hear the news!” Now she can focus on her programs rather than fundraising, at least for the next season.