posted on Nov. 28: Social work association raises funds for children, needy students

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/colouringfinal.jpg”]A fundraiser initiated by social work students at McMaster will brighten the lives of children at McMaster's Children's Hospital and University students in need of financial assistance.

The McMaster Social Work Students Association has teamed up with the hospital and its Teddy Bears Picnic program in launching a colouring calendar featuring Clifford's Creatures. Each picture is accompanied by a self-esteem building message.

The groups are hoping to raise about $25,000 from the project.

Gerald Walsh, president of the McMaster student group, organized the calendar as a community outreach program. He says funds raised from the sale of calendars will also support the establishment of bursaries for McMaster social work students in financial need.

The calendars are $6 each and can be purchased on campus (from the hospital's gift shops) or from the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. They will also be sold at the Hamilton Centre Mall and area schools.

Sponsors of the program, which includes a colouring contest for kids, include Laurentian, Maple Leaf, McMaster Media Productions, the School of Social Work, and the McMaster Students Union. Laurentian is providing complimentary crayons with each calendar purchased.

Illustrations for the calendar were supplied by Hamilton artist J. C. Walsh.

Photo:Gerald Walsh with five-year-old Tylor Grant at calendar launch.