Mackenzie honours teen philanthropy

Mackenzie Financial has named the winner of its 2010 Top Teen Philanthropy Search. Sixteen-year-old Darren Cole, of Toronto, was recognized for his work with Food Banks Canada, which will receive a $5,000 donation in his name. Cole also receives $1,000 personally.

“Once again, our contest has demonstrated that Canada’s younger generation have big hearts,” says Brad Offman, vice-president, strategic philanthropy, Mackenzie Investments. “The drive and determination of these philanthropic teens hopefully will ignite the giving spark in us all.”

From filling 10,000 backpacks with school supplies to sorting food at the local food bank, Darren has been helping those in need since he was six years old. In Grade 9, Darren took his efforts further by creating TOPS for Teens, raising money for his school, and two years ago, created the group Kids Against Canadian Hunger, which encourages local schools to raise money for Food Banks Canada and has raised more than $13,000 to date. This past October he organized a conference on the hunger problem in Canada to help raise awareness and funds for food banks.

Mackenzie has also named five runners up, which will be rewarded with a $500 donation to the charity of their choice. They include:

James Frobb, 19, Edmonton, AB, who helped raise $70,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society by brining its Relay for Life event to Edmonton.

Anna Fricker, 18, Groves Point, NS, who works through World Vision to raise awareness and funds about human rights and the plight of victims of disease and poverty in Africa.

Gorick Ng, 18, Toronto, ON, a student ambassador to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, who helped initiate Feeding Toronto’s Hungry Students Week.

Ashley Tiller, 17, Sunderland, ON, who for the past four years has volunteered with Precious Minds Resource and Learning Centre helping children with autism and developmental disabilities, putting in more than 1,000 hours of assistance and helping secure food donations.

Kimberley Fortin, 19, Pointe Claire, QC, who has worked with Free the Children for the past seven years, and who’s chapter has raised more than $94,000 for Free the Children.

Staff

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