American journalist and historian Henry Adams once said, “Teachers affect eternity; you can never tell where their influence stops.” The teachers of Edmonton Public Schools have taken that statement to another level with their Charity Trust Fund.

A generous supporter of Operation Eyesight for more than 25 years, the Edmonton Public Teachers’ Charity Trust Fund’s mandate is to support Edmonton children and their families, as well as to provide general community support and reach out on an international basis. “It’s a wonderful way for our members to give back to their community,” explains Nels Olsen, a teacher and chair of the donations committee. “Our members find the Charity Trust Fund payroll deductions a convenient way to donate to local and international charities.”

The Charity Trust Fund was established more than 40 years ago and distributes donations to about 35 agencies each year. Operation Eyesight, the only internationally-focused recipient for many years, gained the Charity Trust Fund’s support for a couple of simple reasons: “The committee felt that the organization had a very large impact for what amounted to a modest donation, and Operation Eyesight uses the money we give so effectively.”

Donating internationally helps to give their students perspective about supporting community both at home and abroad. “It also shows our members that they have impact far beyond Edmonton and Canada,” says Nels.

In fact, their impact is international and reaches some of our world’s most vulnerable people. By supporting projects like community development in India and hospitals and outreach programs in Africa, countless children, women and men see a brighter future, thanks to the compassionate members of Edmonton Public Teachers Local No. 37.

The post Thanks to you: Edmonton Public Teachers’ Charity Trust Fund appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Ms Harrison, my daughter’s Kindergarten teacher, was a real gem, as was Mrs Pasutto, who taught both of my children and whom they both adored.

We were fortunate in most of these professional relationships, right up to Ms Cove and Mr Bagocki, senior high teacher advisors who perfectly managed that balance between caring and firmness.

Like many parents, I recognized that these caring adults made a significant difference in the lives of my children. I often chose to acknowledge these “above and beyond” relationships with cards and small gifts to celebrate the end of a school year.

If you’d like to mark a special relationship with something different than the usual chocolates or coffee shop gift card, check out a Gift of Honour on our website.

You can pay tribute to your child’s teacher, coach or caregiver for only $20 – the cost to provide eyeglasses for three Indian or African children in his or her name. Your gift of $30 is the cost of providing sight-saving surgery for one person.

If you wanted to team up with another family or collect funds for a class gift, $75 would provide funds for vital antibiotics for 300 people, while a gift of $100 would help transform a slum into a healthy community.

Even a small Gift of Honour can have a huge impact. Restoring sight means a mother can once again care for her family, a child can go to school, a father can earn an income and a grandparent won’t be a burden.

And as an added bonus, you will let your child’s care provider or teacher know that she or he is special. Imagine Ms Smith’s delight to learn that in her honour, you have actually given sight to someone in Africa or India who is blind. What a life-changing way to mark the end of a school year!

On a personal note: one last “thank you” from my family to all the wonderful professionals who taught, cared for, worried about, laughed with and loved my kids over the years. Your impact is still being felt. They are fine young adults now, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

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