Mackenzie Investments honours teen philanthropists

“We were once again overwhelmed with the impressive charitable work being done by students across Canada” says Brad Offman, vice president, strategic philanthropy, Mackenzie Investments. “This contest is a great way to recognize this important work and to encourage these philanthropic teens to continue giving back.”

For more than five years, Alaina has donated more than 2,000 hours to her grassroots charity, Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan, which supports the education of women and girls in Afghanistan. The charity raises money to pay for teachers’ salaries, train teachers and provide libraries for rural villages. Her efforts to date have raised more than $350,000.

Candidates for Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist were judged on a number of factors, including: the breadth of their volunteering and fundraising efforts; their leadership and creativity; their hands-on involvement in their philanthropic pursuits; the length and level of their involvement’ and the impact on their community and their charity.

Mackenzie also recognized the fine efforts of five additional teens with $500 each to be directed to the charity of their choice, as well as $500 cash:

> Perri Tutelman, 18, of Richmond, B.C. is the founder of Cures for Kids Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children’s immunological disorders. More than $100,000 dollars has been raised through Perri’s efforts which were supported by the foundation’s signature fundraising event, the “Making Magic Show”.

Achan Akwai Chaam, 18, of Ottawa has stopped keeping track of the amount of hours he volunteers for his local Boys and Girls club because they helped him so much and in his words, “they deserve my time”. A new Canadian who was born in Sudan, he found solace in the club that offered a place to learn and grow. He is now an active volunteer, member and Junior Youth worker with the organization.

> Laura Wallace, 19, of Devon, Alta., volunteers for her sister’s charity, the Olive Tree Foundation, Laura lived for a year in Haiti where she helped the organization with its work serving the women and children of Jacmel, Haiti, by providing maternity care at a fully functioning birthing centre. Before she travelled there, Laura also helped fundraise for the cause.

> Peter Gatti, 17, of Toronto, supports the charity Tour for Kids Atlantic — an organization that raises money to support camps for childhood cancer patients through cycling events such as rides across Canada, weekend provincial rides and in-school stationary bike rides. These camps are free, and fully medically staffed and are often the only camps that cancer patients can attend. Along with volunteering, Peter, a leukemia survivor, also completed a 2000 kilometer bike ride from Vancouver to Austin, Texas to help raise money for this cause.

> Leena Bourne, 17, of Petrolia, Ont., is the creator of Love Beads for Leukemia. Leena developed this fundraising program to help her cope with the stress of having a father diagnosed with the disease. Her main goal of making the beaded bracelets is to spread hope, and with more than $30,000 raised going directly towards Cancer Research, and to children’s cancer programs at the London Regional Cancer Clinic.

Along with Jane Wu (2008 winner), a panel of high profile individuals selected this year’s winner and finalists. They included: Craig Keilberger, founder of Free The Children; Danielle Bedasse, executive director, Jays Care Foundation; Carlos Bustamante, host, YTV’s The Zone; and Brad Offman, vice president, strategic philanthropy, Mackenzie Investments