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Boxes of cookies were sold for $10 each at The Arts Conservatory’s winter concerts, with the money going towards those impacted by last fall’s massive flooding.

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Fundraisers give back to community

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 1:48 PST, Fri February 11, 2022

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The organization formerly known as The Arts Connection has long prided itself on giving back to the community.

Now under its rebrand, the company—known as The Arts Conservatory for fine arts programming and Renaissance Academy of Learning for daycare and school-aged programs—had a generous giving season in December.

A cookie drive and ticket sales for two winter recitals raised $6,700. The funds supported animal rescue groups impacted by November’s devastating floods in the Fraser Valley and Interior.

“I thought, there has to be some way we can help people,” says chief executive officer and head of school Linda Shirley.

But the organization already had a fundraiser underway: its annual pyjama drive, with funds going to Jeremy’s Memorial Foundation to help mothers and children fleeing from domestic abuse. The 2021 pyjama drive was the organization’s ninth annual event, raising a record $3,500 and 275 pairs of new pyjamas.

Shirley suggested the cookie drive idea at a staff meeting, despite some concern that the ongoing pyjama fundraiser might dilute the success of the cookie drive.

“To our amazement, the families, staff and other people connected to our school’s efforts came through with amazing results for both causes,” says Shirley.

Through a connection with a Facebook group that supports residents of the Fraser Valley, the cookie drive funds provided four families with $1,000 each, to defray costs associated with losing their homes while needing to care for and feed animals. The remaining funds were distributed as gift cards in smaller denominations.

One recipient called Shirley and was at a loss for words. While his farm was not directly affected by the flooding, he had taken in more than 30 animals to help his neighbours. Thanks to locals who rounded up supplies and delivered hay, he hadn’t spent any additional money.

He and his wife wanted to give their $1,000 to a church fund established to help those who lost their homes, with specific instructions to direct the money towards people with animals needing care. The couple also wanted to match the donation.

“It feels very heartwarming,” says Shirley. “This is why our school has this philosophy that our fundraising is all directed towards the community and not towards supporting the school’s operations.”

With a belief that children adopt the behaviour modelled by the adults around them, Shirley says it’s important to demonstrate community support, social responsibility, and good citizenship.

“You can talk about it all you like, but unless they actually see it in action and see the results, it doesn’t really mean much to them at that age,” she says. “It’s important to teach by example and by role modelling.”