Students organize gift exchange for Children's Aid Society
With the local economy in the doldrums, Christmas will not be such a merry event for many London families. But students from Fanshawe College's corporate communication and public relations program hope to add some holiday cheer by organizing a gift exchange.
For 22 years, the London chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Children Aid Society (CAS) of London and Middlesex have participated in exchanging gifts for teenagers, aged 12 to 18, under the care of the CAS.
The student organizers have set a goal of 80 gifts for this year's event, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton at 1150 Wellington Rd. S. The gifts should be unwrapped and valued at about $25.
Tickets for the event are $30 for students and IABC members and $40 for non-members. RVSP deadline is Friday Nov. 27 via the IABC website at http://londoniabc.com.
Tis the Season: ‘80s edition is the theme for this year's event, which will feature a luncheon buffet and guest speaker, Jane Fitzgerald, executive director of the CAS of London and Middlesex, who will speak on the changes of the CAS from the ‘80s until now.
Students of Section 1 of the CCPR program have been responsible for all facets of planning the event, ranging from determining the theme, finding a venue, budgeting, program development, and pitching the event to IABC members and external and internal media.
While students have been soliciting gifts from IABC members and London businesses, a challenge has been put to the Section 2 class to see who can get the most number of gifts. The loser of this friendly competition will have to buy pizza for the winner.
Of course, the aim is to make this a “win-win” event for everyone, especially the teens under the care of the CAS. The students gain by learning valuable lessons in event planning, both the IABC and students have the satisfaction of giving back to the community, and the teens will have something under the tree on Christmas Day.
Like Col. John “Hannibal” Smith used to say on the A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
For 22 years, the London chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Children Aid Society (CAS) of London and Middlesex have participated in exchanging gifts for teenagers, aged 12 to 18, under the care of the CAS.
The student organizers have set a goal of 80 gifts for this year's event, which will be held Thursday, Dec. 3 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton at 1150 Wellington Rd. S. The gifts should be unwrapped and valued at about $25.
Tickets for the event are $30 for students and IABC members and $40 for non-members. RVSP deadline is Friday Nov. 27 via the IABC website at http://londoniabc.com.
Tis the Season: ‘80s edition is the theme for this year's event, which will feature a luncheon buffet and guest speaker, Jane Fitzgerald, executive director of the CAS of London and Middlesex, who will speak on the changes of the CAS from the ‘80s until now.
Students of Section 1 of the CCPR program have been responsible for all facets of planning the event, ranging from determining the theme, finding a venue, budgeting, program development, and pitching the event to IABC members and external and internal media.
While students have been soliciting gifts from IABC members and London businesses, a challenge has been put to the Section 2 class to see who can get the most number of gifts. The loser of this friendly competition will have to buy pizza for the winner.
Of course, the aim is to make this a “win-win” event for everyone, especially the teens under the care of the CAS. The students gain by learning valuable lessons in event planning, both the IABC and students have the satisfaction of giving back to the community, and the teens will have something under the tree on Christmas Day.
Like Col. John “Hannibal” Smith used to say on the A-Team, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
