What will people remember about us when we die?
One of the schools in our town celebrated Earth Day this year in a BIG way. Over the last 13 months the families of the school, and the community raised well over $100,000.00 in cash and in kind donations. This money was used to refurbish the school site which is well over 100 years old.
An extremely large percentage of cash raised came from a single source. It came from a charitable foundation in the area, established by a gentleman before his death. I don’t know much about this man except that he was an entrepreneur, that he valued community, and that he had foresite. As part of the project, children, teachers, parents and friends planted several hundred trees and bushes, dug gardens, painted, scraped, poured concrete, and created memories that will last a lifetime. They created a play ground that will be remembered long after these children leave the school.
At the grand opening ceremony, the ribbon cutter noted how wonderful it was to be planting trees here. She had attended the school some 50 years earlier, and had helped to plant trees on arbour day so long ago. They are beautiful mature trees still standing in one corner of the field.
The gift our community received from this man is invaluable. We were given the means to celebrate a life lived, and to create memories for lives just beginning.
30 Apr
