Women fundraising champions

Stacey Mowbray's cooking night

Stacey Mowbray hosted an awesome cooking evening in support of Because I am a Girl. The event featured information about the Rwanda school project that she and her daughter, Jamie, are supporting. It also included a fantastic presentation by Jamie about her volunteer efforts in Africa.

The presentations were followed by a cooking class at Cirillo's Culinary Academy. How delish is that!

Stacey matched each $100 donation with $150 of her own money. $12,000 has been raised to date and Stacey is aiming for an eventual total of $20,000

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Sara Sterling's fundraiser run/walk

Only 5% of all girls in Tanzania have the opportunity to go to high school, mainly due to long travel distances and the potential dangers they face along the way. Sara wanted to do something with her 8-year old daughter, Maddy, to help the construction of a girls' school residence in the community of Mwanza.

Sara gathered together a group of other moms and daughters to create the Markham Women's 5K and Girls' 1K race. $20,000 was raised. In September 2010, Sara and Maddy joined Plan on the journey of a lifetime to see the results of their generosity first hand, meeting some of the girls who will live in the residence they are supporting.

Another race for another school

Sara is now organizing a 2011 race to be held in Markham on May 8, to support the construction of a Rwanda elementary school with girl-friendly features and a Girls' Club.

Join Sara and Maddy and help raise funds for girls' education. Be part of this year's race.

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Maha Zeibak's boutique silent auction

Co-owner of UPC Boutique in Yorkville, Toronto, Maha contacted designers featured in the store to ask for their help in supporting Because I am a Girl. Incredible items were donated for a silent auction held in December 2010. The entire store was also 40% off for guests and raised $1540.

The event was supported by these great designers:

• Barila Clothing
• Philip Sparks
• Krane
• Travis Taddeo
• Speech
• Chloe comme Parris
• Nella Bella
• Psalms Accessories

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Sandra Pierce's Power of the Purse Gala and Champagne Reception/Jewellery Trunk Show

In April 2010, Sandra Pierce, Associate Director of Macquarie Private Wealth, known as The Bag Lady of Bay Street - held her First Annual Power of the Purse gala dinner and silent auction at Holt Renfrew for 50 women. She raised $29,155 towards a girls' residential school in Tanzania through Plan Canada's Because I am a Girl. With a matching donation from the Macquarie Foundation this represented a total donation of $58,310.

Sandra held a second event in September at Augustina Boutique in Toronto. The champagne reception and trunk show featured the sale of high-end jewellery designer Temple St. Clair's iconic rock crystal amulets. A percentage of the proceeds from all jewellery sold is going towards the construction of a 12-room school in Rwanda.The Macquarie Foundation matched the funds raised for this event as well – making total donations raised $6,640.

Why Sandra Supports the Movement

Sandra says she supports Because I am a Girl...

... because I believe strongly in the importance of empowering and educating women and girls.

... because I believe in giving back to my community—and as an Investment Advisor at Macquarie Private Wealth, the world is my community.

... because girls in developing nations are among the poorest and most disadvantaged people on the planet — they need and deserve our compassion and support.

... because I believe in the power of Plan Canada to invest our dollars wisely where they are needed most.

... because I believe in the potential of women and girls to change the world!

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Enza Ruscillo's fabulous 40th birthday party!

Enza Ruscillo hosted a fundraising party at her family's Greektown café in Toronto to support the cause. Guests described the event as "epic" and "legendary." Door person was Enza's 11-year old nephew, wearing a Because I am a Girl t-shirt.

Girls' rights are human rights

Enza believes it is her duty as a woman to do whatever she can to ensure that girls around the world are given the bare necessities – clean water, education, and a proper birthing environment. She says she gets frustrated when she hears how girls are being robbed of essentials: "At times I cry and yell because this type of treatment has gone on for centuries – why does it still exist? Thank goodness for Plan Canada and Because I am a Girl. They affect change in areas that are crucial to girls. Because I am a Girl gets the job done!"

Enza saw the movement as a natural cause to support through her 40th birthday party, held at her family's café, T&M Sidewalk Café. Enza charged a $5 entry fee – or whatever people felt like donating to the cause. After expenses, she raised $300 and says, "Just as important, I wanted to create awareness... get people talking about Because I am a Girl... get people thinking."

Enza describes the party as being charged with positive energy as 160 guests "danced, talked about Because I am a Girl, danced, laughed, and danced some more!"

Boys support the cause too!

"My nephew Joseph – 11 years old – was my door person," says Enza. "We are teaching my nephews that young kids can help. We don't always need to give money – we can give time. Kids can make a difference. He wore a Because I am a Girl t-shirt and read the marketing material. He worked from 8pm to midnight. He made a difference! And Joseph spoke about his experience to his classmates on Monday, and now they are interested in fundraising for Because I am a Girl!"

Enza has organized fundraisers for causes for 20 years and most recently Parties with Purpose: Amazing Parties that support a charity of choice. "People will always go out for drinks, dancing and come together," says Enza. "I bring them together and show them that they can give back – make a difference while partying. It's a win-win situation."

More parties to come

Enza has created a Because I am a Girl Dream Team of fabulous women – artists, DJs, dancers, corporates and entrepreneurs. She says she hopes to organize more parties to support the movement, with the next one planned for April.

When asked to complete the sentence 'Because I am a girl…', Enza has no hesitation: "Because I am a girl, I must help other girls!"

You go girl!
Girls are the answer. And so are you.

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The Cambridge Turbos are the ONES!

Cambridge Turbos team member, Christina Mascherin, had visited Zambia in 2007 as a volunteer on a home-building project, where she says she saw first-hand the education challenges for girls in under-developed countries. "Many families simply can't afford to send the kids to school. It's very difficult for them."

When she heard an ad for the Because I Am A Girl campaign, 25-year old Christina's ears perked up. She went to her teammates and asked if they would be interested in developing a fundraiser to help girls in under-developed countries. Her teammates' response was loud and clear: "YES!"

"We're an all-girls team playing what's primarily an all-girls sport," team members explain. "We love what the Because I Am A Girl campaign represents and how it empowers girls around the world. Girls supporting girls, it's cool."

The team decided to hold a Bake Sale at the rink and sell tickets for one of their games, with all proceeds going to the Because I Am A Girl fund. They set a goal of $500. Together they ultimately raised $1060, with the final $20 coming in after this photo was taken.

In January 2010, the teammates again donated their time and efforts, setting up a ringette clinic for girls aged between 9 and 14, with a minimum $5 registration fee. Over 60 girls registered, bringing in an additional $335 for Because I Am A Girl.

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