The spirit of giving is strong at Spitzee School.
The High River elementary school launched the Giving Tree for the second year over the holiday season with the Spitzee School Council engaging community leaders and raising a total of $4,845 to support 15 households with gift cards.
“Spitzee School Council launched this initiative in December of 2023 as a direct response to the economy and the knowledge of families in our community that are struggling,” said Jody Hoogwerf, chair of Spitzee’s school council, in a Foothills School Division release. “The stress that the holidays put on families often lends to them having less ability to engage in the magic that the holidays bring. Our hope was to offset some of the costs and thus increase families' joy throughout the season.
“In line with FSD’s vision of Engagement, Support and Success, we reached out to community businesses throughout the Foothills and many of them took the opportunity and ran with it. In fact, we had our first $1,000 donation within six minutes of launching this to the community.”
Several local businesses supported the fundraising efforts, a group that includes: CDI International, Dairy Queen High River, Sam from My Pizza and Steak House, Crawford Insurance, Blair and Bev Gordon of Century 21, Sobeys High River and Families and Friends of Spitzee Elementary School Students.
“This outstanding initiative demonstrates the true spirit of our community,” added FSD superintendent Chris Fuzessy. “The generosity and support of our donors have not only provided much-needed relief to families during the holiday season but also fostered a sense of unity and compassion. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative efforts that have made the 2024 Giving Tree project a resounding success. Together, we are making a meaningful impact on the lives of our students and their families, reinforcing the values of empathy and community engagement.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed to this remarkable cause.”
