Leadership class students at Crescent High School doled out nearly $4,000 to not-for-profit groups on June 13, 2023. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Chris Brown

‘A good feeling’: Crescent Heights leadership students in a giving mood

Jun 13, 2023 | 4:31 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Leadership class students at Crescent Heights High School are getting a taste of what it’s like to give selflessly and think of others.

Students awarded almost $4,000 this morning to non-profit organizations, most of them local.

“It makes me feel like good knowing that we’re spending time helping the community. Just, I don’t even know how to explain it. It’s just like, it’s a good feeling,” says Grade 10 student Kynnlei Neufeld.

Each year students in the class partner with the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta to award funds to charitable groups. The foundation provided $3,000 this year and students fundraised on top of that.

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Groups such as APARC, Prairie Gleaners Society, CORE and the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society were chosen by the students to receive money. The full list is below.

The students look at the needs in the community and choose where they would like the money to go to. Then they present to the other students, trying to earn their vote for the money.

Leadership class teacher Heather McCaig says the students are leading the way and we need to follow

“My students are the reason I’m here. I love my kids and to see how much passion they really have when you bring them in to these kinds of programs and have them … they shine,” she says.

“They know that they’re working to better other peoples’ lives, or animals’ lives in some cases, and to do that they really step up and they do the best work that I see them do throughout the year because it means something to them. And when you have students doing something that means something to them it really goes a long way.”

McCaig adds many people and not-for-profits in the community and asks everyone to consider giving if you can.

Since 2005 the Crescent Heights class has awarded has more than $30,000 through the Youth in Philanthropy Program.

Recipients

Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society $605.55

Arts Animal Rescue $111.25

McMan Youth, Family and Community Services $400

CORE Association $400

SPCA $600

Root Cellar Food & Wellness Hub $209

APARC $817.10

The Connection $36

Family Services $58.50

Prairie Gleaners Society $714.90