Dear Waterloo Region District School Board Students, Parents and Guardians, and Staff:

In recent weeks people around the world have been united in sadness over the tragic events resulting from typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. As a large educational organization, we are affected in many ways. A number of staff, students and members of our community are of Filipino origin or have family members and friends who live in the affected areas and worry for their safety. People in Waterloo Region are compassionate and caring and have responded generously to appeals for assistance in times of emergency and disaster at home and around the world.

A “Help for the Philippines ~ Because We Care” board-wide fund-raising initiative has been developed.

Parents, students and staff members who have not yet donated to the cause may consider donating through the Waterloo Region Education Foundation Inc. (WEFI) at www.wrdsb.ca/wefi between Wednesday, November 27 and Tuesday, December 3, 2013.  Donated funds will be equally distributed by the Waterloo Education Foundation to the Canadian Red Cross and the Mennonite Central Committee. The Canadian government has made a commitment to match all individual donations made through these fundraising efforts dollar for dollar. Instructions on how to donate online are available.

Over the next few days many of our schools will be organizing fund-raising to support relief efforts. This is an excellent way for our students to engage in a global citizenship initiative. Please note that the Canadian Government will only match individual donations. Donations made online through the Waterloo Education Foundation are considered to be individual donations. Unfortunately, donations made at the school level do not qualify for the Government matching program.

Our generous support of this relief effort will help ease the suffering of the survivors and their families in the Philippines, and help them to rebuild their lives.

Sincerely,

John Bryant, on Behalf of Executive Council