Samira, an immigrant from Somalia, attended a mentorship meeting at Norquest College one Monday and revealed she hadn’t eaten since Friday.

“What was more astonishing,” says Wendy Kinsella, who is stepping down as the chair of the college’s board of governors, “is that she wasn’t expecting any money until the following Friday and really thought she could make it without food until then.”

The volunteers at the meeting took a quick collection. But to get the woman to take the money, they had to tell her it came from a college program.

In future, it will.

Karen Faulkner, NorQuest foundation executive-director, hit on the idea of launching an emergency fund that would involve 1,000 women donating $1,000 each.

The fund is called One Thousand Women: A Million Possibilities. The idea is to raise $1 million in three years to create an endowment that will help in emergencies.

“Most of our 10,000 full-and part-time students are totally dedicated to getting on in life and come to school no matter what,” says Kinsella, the fund’s chairwoman.

“While the fund helps both male and female students, the majority — some 71 per cent — are female. Our students represent 125 countries and 60 per cent were born outside Canada. Another 21 per cent are of Aboriginal ancestry.”

Quitting not best option

Many have dependents and sometimes, in a dental or medical emergency, are not covered through their current funding source.

“Others at times are desperately in need of groceries because of unforeseen hardships,” says Kinsella. “Some walk miles to attend classes and might need help to get a bus pass when the weather is particularly nasty.”

Says Faulkner: “Faced with unexpected expenses can throw students off course and sometimes force them to abandon school to manage the situation.”

Help from all walks of life

The fund was launched in April and to date more than $240,000 has been raised. Lots of women have stepped forward to work on the advisory committee, including college president Jodi Abbott, Jan Folk, Barbara Poole, Arti Koshal, Salma Lakhani, Sheila Weatherill and Judy Cosco.

Artist Irene Klaar has donated an iconic image for the campaign. Isabel Bernete of enPrivado shoes and Marianne Brown, of The Butler Did It, have thrown very successful fundraisers.

“More than 110 donors from all walks of life have so far contributed,” says Kinsella. “The campaign really speaks to Edmonton’s kind of philanthropy. And we of course don’t mind men and companies donating. Some have already helped generously.”

A donor wall will be unveiled at the completion of the initiative in 2013.

Chartered her own course

Seven-year-old Meaghan Modin’s departure reminded me to give all those around me an extra big hug during the festive season.

Meaghan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2005 and has earned her butterfly wings to become an angel with her grandma and grandpa in time for Christmas.

The youngster was hospitalized in August and did not leave the Stollery Children’s Hospital again.

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Source:- Edmonton Journal.

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