SJSH students get honourable mention on Rick Mercer Show

Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board
News Release

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St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Catholic Secondary School raised the third highest amount of funds among 154 secondary schools across Canada who participated in The Rick Mercer Report Spread the Net challenge, which aims to prevent the spread of malaria among African children by raising funds for bed nets.

On March 3, Mercer gave the school an honourable mention on his nationally-televised program for having raised an impressive $27,700, enough to purchase 2,770 bed nets. The school hosted a number of fundraisers over many months and generated Spread the Net awareness by engaging the local community and media.

"Our students most definitely came away from this experience with an awareness of an important issue and...of their individual ability to make a difference," said SJSH Vice Principal, Elizabeth Foisy.

Grade 12 student, Bailey Steele, said the challenge was a reminder of how lucky she is.

"We have vaccines here (in Canada). We are so fortunate to be protected in that way," she said. "We have a lot to give to others, and it was good to be involved in my final year of high school."

SJSH student president, Joshua Pride, said although a visit from Mercer was an exciting possibility, (Mercer visited the winning school), giving back to those less fortunate was the true driving force behind the school's efforts.

"The overall goals of Spread the Net truly reflect the values of our caring school community."

The school would like to thank all of the students, staff, parishes, members of the media and partners in the community who donated so generously. Thousands more African children are now protected against malaria as a result.

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