Woodlands School Council

Hello everyone!

Super Charity Week (March 3rd-7th 2008) is The Woodlands annual fundraising endeavour, co-ordinated and orchestrated by our Prefects. Last year, the Prefects raised over $25,000 for a variety of organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society and Doctors Without Borders.

This year, our charity of choice is the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and we are thrilled to announce that Mr. Lewis will be speaking at The Woodlands on Tuesday March 4th. Mr. Lewis is the former Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and the chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (http://stephenlewisfoundation.org) located in Toronto. He is also the Co-Director of AIDS-free, an international advocacy group that is based in the United
States. His book, Race Against Time, published in 2006, has been hailed worldwide and at this moment, has been integrated into many of our academic departments as part of the curriculum.

The Prefects are vigorously planning six key events for our students. Each event requires supplies to ensure a successful outcome. The events include a seven-hour Dance-A-Thon and the staff Silent Auction, both of which have been magnificent fundraising cornerstones for us. With the benevolence of the business community, this fundraising initiative has been able to support itself with minimal expenses.

The School Council is launching a committee to gather sponsors for this event. We need volunteers to search out sponsors who would be willing to offer either a product donation or a discount. The role of the volunteers will be to:

• meet with team members and identify our funding targets (e.g.: funds/services for making the buttons, printing t-shirts, paying for signed copies of Race Against Time, printing of our own magazine compiled by students as an appendage to the book, etc.)
• develop a database of potential donors
• divide the list and contact these businesses/corporations to explain our mission, in hope of acquiring the donations
• maintain communication with Woodlands staff regarding progress and other potential areas for funding

Please help us make this event a resounding success, by joining our team. All interested volunteers, please contact Mona Sidler-Hosios at LHosios@sympatico.ca

Looking forward to working with you and thanks!!