“Miracle Project” to Help Needy Kids
From left, Bill Glasgow and Captain Neil Wilkinson of the Prince George Salvation Army, Miracle Project creators Ted Price & Anne Laughlin, Allison Fedorkiw, 27 Million Voices – photo 250 News
Prince George, B.C. – A unique project three years in the making was finally launched in Prince George today.
“The Miracle Project” is a fundraiser which aims to help needy kids both locally and abroad and is the brainchild of Theatre North West founders Ted Price and Anne Laughlin.
“There’s an actress (Trish Lindstrom) that I cast in a show and in her own modest way she was doing work in Central America to try to get kids into school,” says Price. “She would go down there once a year and help channel funds to get these kids into school.”
Inspired by that work, he says the idea gathered steam two years ago when he met 27 Million Voices founder Allison Fedorkiw (27 Million voices is a non-profit dedicated to the end and prevention of human trafficking and exploitation in West Africa).
“Our topic was, as theatre people, how could we contribute to Allison’s work for children who are far away, as well as helping children right in our own back yard.”
He says the idea hit the planning stage after a flyer arrived at his door soliciting baby food for the Food Bank.
“That just made us mad,” says Price. “What kind of country are we when people have to go door to door to get food for our babies?”
Using their theatre talents, he says himself and Laughlin have obtained the rights to the Christmas comedy, “Miracle on South Division Street.”
The play will be produced by Laughlin and directed and designed by Price and run November 20 to December 6, 2015 at ArtsSpace at Books and Company.
The goal is to raise over $50,000 with proceeds going to the Salvation Army and 27 Million Voices.
Salvation Army Captain Neil Wilkinson thinks it’s a wonderful idea.
“This concept is just amazing and to know the money is being directed to the most vulnerable of our youth, this is the best way to give our kids a fighting chance to meet their basic needs.”
Fedorkiw agrees.
“It is an impressive example of philanthropy here in Prince George, because it demonstrates that any of us can make the choice to give back.”
Comments
“That just made us mad,” says Price. “What kind of country are we when people have to go door to door to get food for our babies?”
I take exception to this comment, especially from someone who just received a large grant from the city taxpayers to fund what is essentially a entertainment venue for the middle to upper class.
Okay, so welfare has a shelter portion. Welfare recipients usually pay rent. Rent is based partly on city taxes, as the landlord must pay full city taxes – no homeowners grant, so, part of the shelter portion welfare recipient’s pay, are for city taxes.
City taxes are based on city expenditures including Theatre Northwest, Canada Winter Games, Trips to China, etc.
So, maybe donate your grant to the food bank, and raise your ticket prices, because what kind of country funds the arts, when people are going door to door for food for babies.
And for what its’ worth, once upon a time, under a Socred government (not known for their generous welfare policies), me and my family needed help from Social Assistance during an unexpected rough patch (recession), and somehow we managed to not only eat properly, and have decent accommodation, but even got to go out to eat on two for one tuesdays. But then, we didn’t smoke, we didn’t drink, we shopped at thrift stores, and rode bicycles everywhere. No Iphone, No internet. If you don’t have baby food, it’s not because we the taxpayer are being cruel, it’s because you’ve chosen something else over your baby.
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