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2010's MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Ensures Music Lessons For Low-income Kids

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has named Toronto’s Marian Cheney 2010’s MusiCounts teacher of the year. For 20 years, she has been teaching music at Queen Victoria Public School in Parkdale, an area of the city with a high concentration of low-income apartments and substandard living conditions.

“While at the Parkdale area school in Toronto, she has welcomed many new students from immigrant and low-income families to her classes,” says the press release about her award.  “Her policy is that no child is turned away from band or choir based on his / her ability or family financial situation.  She is very involved in the school’s vocal and choir programs as well as guitar ensemble and concert band.”

CARAS registered as an educational charity in 1974 for cultural activities and promotion of the arts. Its main function is to present the annual Juno Awards for Canadian music. MusiCounts is CARAS's music education program, whose Band Aid grants help provide musical instruments to schools and community organizations throughout Canada that apply and meet the requirements.  In 2009, approximately $650,000 was given to qualified donees, according to the registered charity information return.

* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.

Trying To Organize Your Own Volunteer Team This Holiday?

Are you attempting to organize your own food drive or gift collection to help out those less fortunate than you this holiday season? That's admirable, indeed. But, alas, your charitable spirit can give you added stress if you’re not organized and you might end up yelling at your elves.

Here are some tips from Sarah Rutka, who has become somewhat of an expert through trial and error.

Rutka is a co-founder of Holiday Helpers, a volunteer-based non-profit organization that puts 100 percent of the funds it raises into Christmas packages that are delivered to more than 150 low-income families across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These families are sourced through partnerships with such credible charitable organizations as Ontrack, Windfall Clothing, St. Michaels of All Angels, The Yonge Street Mission and The Massey Centre For Women, and then interviewed so that Holiday Helpers can come up with wish lists for them.

Each package is valued at about $200 and consists of a fully decorated artificial Christmas tree, a $75 gift card to a local grocery store and gifts for each family member from their wish lists — which usually include winter jackets, boots, warm clothes, toys, books and health and beauty aids.

* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.

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