Victoria Sheppard - My Blog

Cheers For Children a Smashing Success!

CMETrust's Kitchener/Waterloo chapter held their annual "Cheers For Children" spring fundraiser in June, and we're very pleased to report that it was a (pint) smashing success! Our hard working K-W board member and volunteers have raised the bar once again after an evening of fun, games, food, and drink that netted the equivalent of 9 scholarships.
Thanks to all of those who attended and/or donated to this event. It is because of your generous support that CMETrust is able to continue doing what we do. Overall, "Cheers For Children" raised nearly $5,500 for secondary school scholarships in Mathare. Let's put our hands together for Kitchener/Waterloo!

Mathare in Focus Exhibition

On November 14, 2009, friends and supporters of CMETrust gathered at the Arts Court in Ottawa for our Mathare in Focus vernissage and the launch of our 2010 calendar, of photos taken by CMETrust scholars, the first of its kind. The event was a huge success - we surpassed our goal by raising over $5,400 net, enough for 9 scholarships - thanks to all who contributed in various and generous ways!
Our Mathare in Focus exhibition is currently on tour in Ottawa, already having spent time at the Body Shop, Cyclelogik, the Manx and Chez Lucien - keep an eye on our website for current and future locations!
All Mathare in Focus photographs are also available for sale online - visit www.CMETrust.org

On The Ground: CMETrust's Annual Board Member Visitation

Every year CMETrust aims to have a board member visit Kenya with the purpose of interacting and evaluating our cause first hand. Last year we were lucky enough to have Amy White visit Mathare. Amy spent a considerable amount of time with our scholars in and around Mathare.
The feedback Amy received from our Kenyan agents, scholars, and their families was both highly positive and constructive. We look forward to furthering our support for secondary education in Mathare, and it's the efforts of board members like Amy that will make this possible.

Our Growing Team
We're continuing to grow as an organization, and we're very pleased to announce that we've added two new board members.

Ori Mandowsky graduated from the University of Western Ontario with both an Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree from the Richard Ivey School of Business and an LL.B. from Western's Law School. After graduating, Ori was a corporate/commercial lawyer with a major downtown Toronto law firm. He currently works as a corporate development analyst for a Toronto investment management firm.
Since starting to volunteer with CMETrust in 2009, Ori was drawn to the passion and dedication of CMETrust's Board and volunteers. He strongly believes that education has the power to save lives, and he is excited to put some of his business and legal skills to use in helping CMETrust grow and succeed.
Megan Deeks is a graduate of Queen's University; she has a BAH in Dramatic Arts and Women's Studies. She is soon to enter into the world of finance with CIBC Wood Gundy in their private investing sector. Deeks has a background in fundraising and event planning, as well as in performance art - at many of Toronto's popular theatres. She currently performs with an all-female sketch troupe called She Said What. Megan feels very strongly about making education attainable for those for whom it isn't, and she is elated to dig deeper into the CMETrust as a newly elected board member. Deeks is determined to make her mark on what she feels is the future of tomorrow.

Hearts For Smarts 2010 Recap

Hearts for Smarts 2010 raised enough for seven new CMETrust scholarships. It was an incredible evening of music, fun, art, and entertainment. Thanks to all for your incredibly generous contributions, and your continued support! A big thanks to our host, Tal Dehtiar of Oliberte Footwear, and to all of our silent auction donors for the great items that helped make our signature Toronto event a success once again.

kenya, mathare

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Canada-Mathare Education Trust (CMETrust), I'd like to sincerely thank you for your ongoing support and give you an exciting update...

On February 5, many of you gathered with us in Toronto, at the Great Hall, for CMETrust's fourth annual Hearts for Smarts fundraiser.

Thanks to your generosity (and eager silent auction bidding) we raised enough money for 7 new scholarships, bringing our total to 40 secondary school scholarships in Kenya.

CMETrust would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to you all for your kind support, and would also like to acknowledge those who were not in attendance but still made contributions from afar, thank you!

Pictures from the evening, courtesy of Elizabeth Gareri, have been posted on our website...

Finally, one last THANK YOU, to everyone for your contributions to this fabulous night - the lovely silent auction & raffle donations, our fantastic host, the entertaining music, the hard work of our dedicated volunteers, and of course to all our generous donors...

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!

Victoria Sheppard
CMETrust President, On behalf of the CMETrust-Toronto Organizing Committee