Grad Legacy Project

                                                                                 ‘Every Day Make a Difference’

STA has held a Walkathon every year since 1987. Funds raised through the Walkathons go toward enhancing student programs. For example; Walkathon monies have helped buy a school bus, purchased computers for the IT labs, helped equip the weight room, acquired uniforms for school teams and contributed to the library. There is a charitable component of all Walkathon monies raised. Twenty percent is given to a charity. In 2006-07, it was decided that as each grade 8 class entered high school, their 20% would be banked and accumulated over their five years at STA. In their grade 12 year, the class would decide where the accumulated funds would be donated.

The aim of having the graduates use their charitable Walkathon monies in a major donation was to create an opportunity for each class to make a difference in the lives of families and children in different parts of the world. A lasting legacy for each class. Usually there is a connection between the charity chosen and one or more students in the grad class. For example, the 2012 class helped build an orphanage for girls in India through the Prishan Foundation, set up by the sister of a student in that class. Money given to the Salesian Fathers for their work was a result of STA Encounter trips to the Philippines. The 2018 class money went to Caritas de Venezuela, to help feed children. This charity was brought to the attention of the class by two students whose families came from Venezuela

                   The Grad class of 2022 donated $12000 to Development and Peace-Caritas Canada for reforestation and education programs in Burundi and                             Madagascar to help combat climate change.. 

                   The class of 2021 donated $8000 to Mejer Venezuela (Better Venezuela Sociaty) to help children suffering from malnutrition and $4000 to                                   Development and Peace to help the Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Community Development.                             

  • The Grad class of 2020 donated $5000 to ‘Doctors Without Borders’ and $5000 to ‘Islamic Relief Canada’ to help in war torn Yemen. A further $2300 was given to the ‘Indian Residential School Survivors Society.’
  • The class of 2019 split their $12,161 between Pope Francis Village in Tacloban City in the Philippines, to help families recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, and ‘Embrace Rwanda’ to aid in early childhood education and health care.
  • The Grad class of 2018 donated $10,000 to ‘Caritas de Venezuela’ to help feed children suffering from malnutrition. A further $6,500 was sent to Development and Peace’s ‘Jacha Project’ in Haiti to help finance a bakery.
  • The 2017 class donated $12,589 to the Salesians of Don Bosco (an order of priests) on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, for outreach programs with the poor and to help furbish their schools.
  • The Grad class of 2016 donated $5,316 to ‘Development and Peace’ to aid their work with victims of the massive earthquake that occurred in Ecuador in April 2016.
  • The 2015 Grad class donated $12000 to Liloan National High School (run by the Salesians of Don Bosco) in the city of Cebu, in the Philippines. This school is for orphaned and abandoned boys as well as poor, children who live nearby.      The 2014 class donated $12,500 to build a dormitory for St Andrew Kaggwa School in Uganda.
  • The 2013 class sent $8,500 to the ‘Africa Water Bank’ to build wells for irrigation and drinking water in Kenya.
  • The 2012 class donated $11,300 to the ’Prishan Foundation’ to help build an orphanage for girls in Rayagada, India.
  • The 2011 class donated $12,142 ‘Embrace Rwanda’ to build a school kitchen and furnish a school library in Rwanda.

The organizations that receive these donations have been very appreciative, with one donor relation officer, in 2020, stating that “it is truly encouraging that our younger generation, in particular your students have the spirit of charity and fellowship already instilled at a young age”.

We are very proud that our graduates are making a difference in the lives of so many students and families. It is an important legacy to leave and an example and inspiration for future classes.Grad Legacy Project