St. Mary’s College was the scene of Christmas carols, Scripture readings, prayers and cheque presentations Tuesday, as the school’s staff and students celebrated the wrap up of their 2018 Heaven Cent campaign, an annual fundraiser for those in need.
“Our Heaven Cent campaign consists of the three pillars of Adoption, Action and Alms,” said Christopher Czop, St. Mary’s College vice-principal, speaking to SooToday.
The Adoption aspect sees gifts purchased for students in need within the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board (H-SCDSB).
“We have 52 Santas who have ‘adopted’ individuals, making sure they have gifts under their Christmas trees,” Czop smiled.
The Action component involves classes reaching out to members of the community at large.
Over 900 Christmas cards went to retirement homes, along with canned food donations to various agencies.
The Alms portion centres on raising funds for various local organizations as selected by the students.
$15,254 was raised by St. Mary’s College students, divided up between several organizations under the Alms portion of Heaven Cent.
“Staff mentors it, but it’s all student driven,” Czop said, Heaven Cent a rebranding of the original annual Pennies from Heaven campaign, established by now-deceased local Catholic educator Bob Denham.
The name change came about in 2015 with the opening of the new St. Mary’s College.
“We’ve raised just over $350,000 since the inception of Pennies from Heaven in the 1990s,” Czop said.
Local agencies which benefited from this year’s Heaven Cent campaign included:
- Childcare Algoma and Women In Crisis, $1,000
- Pauline’s Place, $1,000
- Algoma Autism Foundation, $500
- Metis Nation of Ontario, $500
- Sault YMCA Student/Family subsidy program, $500
- THRIVE Child Development, $1,000
- Pregnancy Centre, $1,000
- Habitat for Humanity, $500
- Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre and St. Vincent Place, $1,000 each
- Breton House, $1,000
- Breaking Away (a program to assist high school students with special needs), $1,000
The Special Ed Bowling Tournament (hosted by H-SCDSB), the St. Mary's College Breakfast/Lunch program and Helping Hands, Caring Hearts (H-SCDSB) also received help.
“We continue to be amazed by the students reaching out to those in need. They feel it’s their duty, it’s their calling as St. Mary’s Knights to give back and help those in need,” Czop said.