Birthday boy turns party into charity fundraiser
Published: August 17, 2007
Angus MacIntosh knew just what he wanted when friends asked what gifts they could bring to his 11th birthday party this month.
Cash.
But Angus is anything but a spoiled child with his hand out for himself.
Instead, the East York boy decided to give his birthday money to an orphanage in Ecuador building a playground for the children it cares for, all under the age of seven.
Angus got the idea from a penny drive fundraiser for the Maria Hogar-Bordoni orphanage held for the last two months at Presteign Heights Elementary School, where he just completed Grade 5.
“I just thought, 13 people (coming to my party), that’s a lot of presents. The money could help people,” he said.
“I would do it again if I had another birthday.”
He turned 11 on Wednesday, but celebrated the big day June 9 with a ball hockey party at Adam Beck Community Centre.
His generous friends donated $300, which doubled the school’s penny drive, bringing Presteign’s contribution to the orphanage to $600. Angus also pitched in $6 in coins to the penny drive.
Admitting he was momentarily a little sad to be missing out on gifts, Angus said that was easily eclipsed by the feeling of generosity he gained knowing he was helping children half a world a way.
“It felt good. My friends didn’t say anything, but their parents said it was nice of me,” he said. “I just want to encourage people to give donations instead of (getting) presents. I think if we did that, it (the world) will be more equal and they can have things like us.”
Angus thinks his younger sister Alison, 7, may also someday have a birthday party in which she asks for donations to charity rather than presents.
“Not in the near future, but maybe when she’s older,” he said.
Kelly Walker is chair of the home and school committee at Presteign, which is on St. Clair Avenue east of O’Connor Drive. The school learned about the orphanage when a friend of one of the parents brought in the toddler she had adopted from the facility, Walker said.
When the woman explained the orphanage was hoping to build a playground and sports field, she said the students and their parents responded.
“We had just done our playground at our school a couple of years ago so we thought it was a nice symmetry,” said Walker, noting the school has also supported local charities including Toonies for Tuques this winter.
“We want (students) to realize the world is not all what we have here in Toronto. We’re so lucky here. The kids just responded to it. I think what they got out of is that wonderful feeling that they have done something to hopefully have made someone’s life better.”
The students embraced the fundraiser from the word go, Walker said.
“It’s amazing. The kids go home and say ‘Mommy, we have this thing at school.’ It’s honest and genuine and lovely,” she said.
“It’s impressive when this happens. It’s impressive, especially to the extent what Angus did.”
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