The sixth annual Olds High School (OHS) Interact banquet was again a huge success and your kind donations helped make it possible.
With your help, OHS Interact students were able to raise just over $4,500 toward their causes.
Our goal this year is to begin a four-year commitment to young women in Malawi, Africa. We will sponsor a girl who is beginning her first form at the Atsikana Pa Ulendo school for girls.
We hope to be able to fundraise annually and support her as she progresses through to the end of her high school program.
We are looking toward developing more communication and connections between this student and our students at OHS. It will be an interesting and exciting journey for both our students and the students in Malawi.
Our second fundraising goal is to begin annual contributions to the gowns for grads program.
This program sees new or gently used grad gowns made available to grads at a significantly reduced rate. Funds raised from the sale of the gowns are also used to subsidize costs of formal wear rental for male graduates who would benefit from some assistance.
Since its inception, the OHS Interact Club has benefited from the continued support and guidance of the Olds Rotary Club. Each year, Olds Rotary Club has sponsored up to six students to attend leadership camps, and each year they work hard to support the Interact student initiatives.
One exciting possibility that has opened for us through this relationship has been that the Rotarians have generously offered to match our fundraising dollars for the Malawi project.
Students have been excited to see that, with community collaboration, we may be able to see our fundraising grow up to 10 times.
We have partnered with the Olds Rotary Club which in turn is working with the Calgary West Rotary Club.
The final donated amount will be taken toward the district level to be used in an application for 3:1 grant dollars. Basically, this means that our donation of $4,500 has the potential to lead toward a much more sizable donation.
It has been excellent for the students to see the value of community partnerships and working together.
The very generous donations from both individuals and local businesses of raffle table items, bake sale items and the support of the Rotarians have reaffirmed what a great community we are working and living in.
Thank you again for helping our club and being a part of this wonderful community we live in.
Tane Skotheim
Olds
Skotheim, an Olds High School family wellness worker, works with the Olds High School Interact Banquet Committee.
