LAC LA BICHE - On Jan. 23, the Rotary Club of Lac La Biche presented APPLE Schools with a $5,000 donation from money raised during a golf tournament held in June.
Susan Ward, past president of the Rotary Club, joined current president Tim Polzin at Vera M. Welsh Elementary School in Lac La Biche to present the $5,000 cheque to Tina Skakun, who serves as the APPLE Schools health mentor for its northeastern Alberta schools.
APPLE Schools is a school-based health promotion initiative that focuses on teaching healthy eating, mental well-being, and physical activity to students across Alberta and Canada. The program is represented in the Lac La Biche area at Vera M. Welsh Elementary School and Aurora Middle School.
Ward said the donation to APPLE Schools came from the Brydon Ward Memorial Golf Tournament, which took place at the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club. According to Ward, around $12,000 was raised from the charity event, with $5,000 being allotted for the school initiative.
Being able to provide this money to APPLE Schools, Ward says, is a very good feeling for the service organization.
“We’re very committed to APPLE Schools . . . We’ve given them a number of donations, but this is probably the most significant one that we’ve given them,” she told Lakeland This Week.
Molly Bujold, communications manager for APPLE Schools, said the non-profit organization is “incredibly grateful” to the Rotary Club of Lac La Biche for their generosity.
The support from the Rotary Club, she said, inspires APPLE Schools and underscores the power of community partnerships.
“This donation reflects their commitment to the well-being of children in the Lac La Biche area and their belief in the importance of creating healthier school communities,” Bujold said.
The funds will support APPLE Schools in helping Lac La Biche school communities implement wellness initiatives tailored to their unique needs. Bujold said this includes providing resources and tools that empower schools to address barriers, celebrate successes, and build on their progress year after year.
Every contribution the organization receives plays a role in helping to empower schools to make lasting, healthy changes.
“While donations don’t directly fund specific schools or areas, they collectively make a meaningful impact in transforming APPLE school communities across Canada,” she stated.
APPLE Schools empowers kids to take charge of their health journeys by helping their schools set healthy action plans tailored to their unique needs, supported by expert APPLE health mentors, she said.
“These mentors provide guidance, learning opportunities, monthly wellness campaigns, and hands-on resources, while APPLE funding enables schools to bring their action plans to life,” Bujold said.
