Yorkregion.com - Y-Files - Youth come together for youth
Youth come together for youth
Y-Files
Jan 11, 2008 07:09 PM
Teenagers to raise cash for Spread the Net
By: Teresa Latchford
Youth are working together to help youth.
Last year, area teenagers raised $28,000 for World Vision to build three classrooms in Senegal, Africa and assist aboriginal programs in Canada.
This year, the group is participating in the Spread the Net school challenge to help provide mosquito netting to children as protection from malaria and will reach its goal by organizing and hosting the second Youth Aid benefit concert.
“Sacred Heart (Catholic High School) is the No. 1 school in Canada in the challenge as of right now,” said founder Alexandra O’Brien, 17. “It’s amazing what people can do when they come together.”
Two years ago, Ms O’Brien wrote a speech for English class with the hope of making classmates aware of the number of people around the world stricken by poverty.
Through her research, she found people in some parts of the world are living on $1 a day and she thought she could make a small difference by sharing the information with her peers.
However, after delivering the speech, she wasn’t satisfied and set out to organize a concert called Youth Aid 2007, leading to a repeat this year for a different cause.
“Many charities are kind of dry with door-to-door knocking,” said musical director Matt Fong.
“I never expected to get involved in something like this, but any chance to perform I’ll take and it’s fun to be involved in.”
Mr. Fong, who plays the guitar and bass, performed a number for last year’s concert and enjoyed it so much he volunteered this year to be the musical director, as well as perform in a number of acts.
“It’s nice that we can do something we enjoy like offer our talents and help others as well,” said Newmarket High School student Emma Aylon who will be performing dance numbers with Richmond Hill Dansecore.
The raising of funds began at the annual Christmas show the school puts on every year where Ms O’Brien, her younger sister Lauren and other student volunteers set up a booth to sell donated beverages, Youth Aid gear, homemade baked goods and handmade necklaces.
“We probably made at least $1,000 from that,” Ms O’Brien added. “We are over $6,000 already.”
Presentations are also being made to raise awareness in Notre Dame Catholic Elementary School.
Ms O’Brien admits it is a lot of work to get every act perfect but said it is worth every minute to put on an amazing concert and help stop the spread of Malaria at the same time.
The concert this year will feature local school and community talent, including On the Seaside performing an original song written by Mackenzie Higgs, Drum Wars, Derek MacDiarmid and Sean MacMillan, a guitar duet by Matt Fong and Dillon Ivens, The Lemmes, Sacred Heart improv team, Dansecore and many vocalists.
Guest speakers include Town of Newmarket Mayor Tony Van Bynen and Newmarket-Aurora MP Belinda Stronach.
The Youth Aid 2008 Spread the Net benefit concert will take place at Sacred Heart in Newmarket Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
All funds raised will be donated to Spread the Net, an organization founded by Ms Stronach and comedian Rick Mercer in partnership with UNICEF Canada.
Tickets are available for purchase at the school at 1 Crusader Way in Newmarket.
To find out more or to make a donation, visit https://secure.e2m.com/registrant/TeamPage.aspx?EventID=13528&LangPref=en-CA&TeamID=5009.