In the world of bowling charities, St. Albert’s favourite son has done it again. Jaden Babiuk, the wunderkind who created a popular local fundraiser when he was just six years old, had been honoured with a prestigious humanitarian award.
“He’s quite humble,” exclaimed his mother, Lisa after he was given a National Philanthropy Day award. “He’s funny. He was excited with the big gathering … but at the end of the whole thing they wanted everybody on the stage for a group picture and he wanted nothing to do with it: ‘It’s not a big deal. I don’t need to have the big, huge hoopla about it.’ That’s how it does it through the year preparing for Strikes anyways.”
Babiuk, now nine years old, was actually nominated two years ago during the inaugural year of Strikes for Cancer. He didn’t go home with the prize, then but the Canadian Cancer Society submitted his name again this year, and for good reason. In the three years that the charity event has been going on, it has raised more than $35,000 for that organization. The fourth edition of the event has just been announced on its website at www.strikesforcancer.com. It is set to take place in the spring.
National Philanthropy Day is celebrated each Nov. 15 across North America to recognize the importance of community service in making the world a better place for everybody. The movement was started by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and each local chapter of that organization hosts its own awards. It began in 1986 but it has only been celebrated in Edmonton for 13 years.
Other area residents or organizations that were nominated for the awards in a range of categories include Cory Christopher and the St. Albert Children’s Theatre. Previously, Sue Leighton and Bellerose Composite High School won the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Group award in 2008.
This actually marks Babiuk’s second major award this year. At the end of April, he was presented with a Leader of Tomorrow Award by the Community Information and Volunteer Centre.
The deadline for nominations for the 14th annual awards is June 29, 2012. For more information, please visit www.afpedmonton.ca.
