'Heaven Cent' raises $18,000 for local charities (7 photos)

St. Mary’s College students and educators formally celebrated the results of their Christmas 2022 "Heaven Cent" campaign at the Second Line East high school Thursday morning.

The Celebration of Giving ceremony was originally scheduled for Dec. 15, but a ransomware attack targeting computer systems at the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board forced students home for the Christmas break two days earlier than expected.

In a three-week time span before Christmas, SMC students and educators raised $18,277 in funds for 15 local charities and not-for-profits to help needy people in the community in the spirit of Christmas giving.

Funds raised were distributed to:

• St. Vincent Place
• Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre
• Pauline's Place
• Breton House
• Sault Ste. Marie YMCA
• Harvest Algoma
• Algoma Pregnancy Centre
• Metis Nation of Ontario
• Algoma Autism Foundation
• Breaking Away
• Helping Hands - Caring Hearts
• Santa Claus Fund - Christmas Cheer
• Habitat For Humanity Sault Ste. Marie
• Women in Crisis
• ARCH - Illuminate the Season  

Fundraising events for the 2022 Heaven Cent campaign included:

• Student versus teacher soccer, basketball, volleyball and hockey games
• Mr. SMC Bachelor Pageant with over 450 attendees
• Pasta Dinner Kit Fundraiser
• Joyful Socks
• SMC Talent Event
• Seven dress theme days
• Canned food drive
• Name that Tune fundraiser

Stephanie Parniak, SMC chaplain, told an audience of students gathered for today's ceremony at the school’s auditorium that just as Jesus Christ was born into humble surroundings and performed good works for multitudes during His ministry, they should likewise be humble and do good deeds for those in need.

Representatives from most of the organizations benefiting from 2022 Heaven Cent were in attendance and received cheques on the auditorium’s stage.

The ceremony also included prayers, a brief video presentation and a dance performance by a group of SMC students.

“Heaven Cent teaches us the importance of helping those in need, and seeing all the recipients receive the money we helped to raise is inspiring me to do more in the future,” said Grade 12 SMC student Olivia Spadafora. 

“We were able to do fundraising because there were no COVID stoppages and restrictions,” said Christopher Czop, SMC vice-principal.

“Everything was opened up. That was fantastic. It was a blessing. It was almost like a rebranding because our Grade 12 students knew what Heaven Cent was but our younger students didn’t really know the full effect of Heaven Cent because we had all the restrictions through COVID.”

“We were very proud and happy to be able to do this,” Czop said.