GC4C to raise funds for Kenyan and Yukon students at Roundup

VANCOUVER – Global Change for Children (GC4C) will kick off its 2011 fundraising campaign at Mineral Exploration Roundup, to be held Jan. 24-27 in Vancouver.

In keeping with the conference theme, “Exploring Today for Tomorrow’s Resources,” the registered charity will raise funds to help provide students in Kenya and the Yukon Territory with the resources they will need to be successful in the future.
GC4C was formed in 2008 by professional women primarily from B.C.’s mineral exploration industry to support worthy causes that enhance and promote the health, education and social and economic progress of children.

Last year’s campaign raised more than $18,000 to support the Kenya Education Endowment Fund (KEEF), which helps bright students who can’t afford all or part of their school-related fees in Kenya’s Western Province.

GC4C aims to exceed that goal this year so it can continue to support KEEF and a second worthy cause, Yukon Food for Learning (YFFL), which funds school nutrition programs in the Yukon. This respected non-profit organization gives dozens of local schools the resources they need to ensure that students “eat right to be bright”.

GC4C will have a booth at the global mining conference on Jan. 24 and 25, but the main event will be its popular annual fundraiser and silent auction at Smiley’s Public House, 911 West Pender St., at 5 PM on Jan. 26. As in the past, all proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales ($15 at Roundup or at the door), the silent auction and other donations will directly benefit the schools and students selected by KEEF and YFFL.

GC4C’s president Chafika Eddine stated: “Our mandate is to make a difference in young people’s lives by giving some hope for a brighter future. The funds raised last year sponsored the secondary education of four boys in Kenya. We also helped build a primary school library and provided it with furniture and books, sponsored a workshop for budgeting skills and HIV/AIDS awareness, and purchased 550 textbooks for 50 students.”

B.C.-based GC4C is a volunteer organization with 100% of its net proceeds donated to children’s causes that are carefully selected for their low overhead and ability to administer programs with measurable results.

To learn more, visit www.gc4c.org.

[editor’s note: story corrected on Jan. 10, replacing Kenya Education Fund (KEF) with Kenya Education Endowment Fund (KEEF). They are two separate charities.]