Young philanthropist helps African children

Young philanthropist helps African children. Grayson Burrows, 10, with help from friends, family, classmates and her church community raised more than $2,000 for Villages of Hope Africa. Submitted photo

PARRY SOUND - Grayson Burrows’ voice is small, barely audible when she talks about why she wanted to help the Canadian charity Villages of Hope Africa, but the unselfish kindness in the 10-year-old’s heart is heard loud and clear.
On April 17, shortly after a talk from Parry Sounders Gay and Elizabeth Norrie, who now live in Zimbabwe, Africa, the William Beatty student began brainstorming with her mother on a ways she could raise money to help the project.
Under the direction of Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, the first village opened in Kitwe, Zambia in 1999 and provides food, education and healthcare for children in need. It also provides housing for orphan children who have no place to live.
“Our mission is to bring lasting hope to children at risk, so they can embrace adulthood as independent and contributing members of society,” states the Villages of Hope Africa website.
“She gave me ideas of selling something or making blankets or selling them or doing a penny drive, so I decided to do a penny drive,” said Grayson, who brainstormed with her mother and raised $2,438.34. “I started in April 17 at the school, I (fundraised) from the 17th to the 27th and then at the church I (asked for donations) for just one Sunday and then some more donations came in after that. Then with the church kids’ program I just (fundraised) one day.”
The shy Grade 5 student made an announcement at her church, the Parry Sound Pentecostal Tabernacle, made posters and enlisted her friends to help her collect pennies from classmates.
An evening of rolling coins
Grayson’s mom and dad, Shannon and Wade, helped her roll the coins.
“For the first hour, it was pretty fun…and then the many hours after that,” laughed Wade. “She got a big chunk of silver coins from a grandpa, so that helped boost things.”
The funds will help house the children, feed them and send about 19 of them to school, Grayson said.
“That means they can hire a teacher and an assistant and feed them breakfast and a healthy snack (at school),” she said.
This isn’t Grayson’s first self-initiated fundraiser. For her birthday, on November 25, she asked for donations for the West Parry Sound Health Centre and raised $175.
“I am very proud of my daughter, yes, she did a lot of hard work,” said Wade. “She had a lot of friends come together to help, which was really neat. I’m very proud that she would think outside of herself at this young age.”
When asked if she has another charity in mind that she would like to help in the near future she replied with a small smile, ”I haven’t thought about that yet.”

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