White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Fundraising Effort - 2002/2003

White Pines Collegiate and Vocational School is a large, modern high school in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, just across the border from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA. When the school opened in 1973, it was decided that the wolverine would be the school's mascot, because it is an animal that can exhibit remarkable ferocity even when faced with animals much larger than itself. This is why the OAC World Issues class (grade 13 Geography) of the first semester 2002/2003 school year chose to support The Wolverine Foundation, Inc. (TWF). The fund-raising efforts continue a tradition of student-led activities in this course to support worthy charitable causes which, in the past, have included pandas, tigers, polar bears, and supporting a child in Africa.

The student leaders, Christena Hurley and Lindsay Halstead, learned about TWF by searching the Internet for an organization that would be a suitable recipient of money raised by the class. Once TWF was located, the students knew it would be perfect as an Ontario, Canada, wolverine project was just getting underway (Ontario Boreal Wolverine Project). With the support of the teacher, Mr. Gregg Young, and the school principal, Ms. Holly Wickett, Lindsay contacted TWF and information was gained to present to the class. From among various worthwhile causes, the class immediately chose to support the wolverine through The Wolverine Foundation, Inc.

During the semester, the two main fundraising events were a "Wake-a-Thon", in which students received pledges to stay awake all night, and the sale of carnations on Valentine's Day. Both of these events were great successes, bringing in $250 and $100 respectively. There were several smaller fundraisers such as a hat day (students pay one dollar to wear their hat in school) and a jelly bean guessing contest, with the closest guess winning the jar of jelly beans. All of the events encouraged student involvement and promoted school spirit.

The students were so involved with this fund-raising for TWF's Ontario wolverine project that they continued working well into the second semester after their own World Issues class had ended. By the end of the school year, a total of $500 (Canadian) was raised for The Wolverine Foundation, Inc.'s efforts to save the wolverine, much beyond the original goal the students had set. More than this, White Pines students felt good about having done something to help their world.

Gregg Young
OAC World Issues teacher

From left to right: Mr. Gregg Young/teacher, Ms. Holly Wickett/principal,
Miss Christena Hurley/student leader and Andy Sharpe as "the wolverine"