Hannah Macllellan could make a grown man cry. That’s just what the 11-year-old Easter Seals PEI Ambassador did to Easter Seals PEI campaign chair, Paul Jenkins when he told her they reached their $100,000 fundraising goal for the year. Her response was ecstatic.
“And that brings a tear to my eye because that is why you are involved in these types of charities,” said Jenkins. “What Hannah did at every turn was inspire. She put her heart and soul into the campaign. Her good nature and enthusiasm simply percolated throughout.”
The final tally is a culmination of tremendous fundraising activity throughout the winter and spring. Easter Seals PEI had to make up for the loss of the annual spring telethon on CBC-TV. Last year CBC announced that it would no longer host the telethon.
Thanks to the charm of the 2011 Easter Seals Ambassador, the charity raised a respectable $101,512 for Camp Gencheff and Joy Riders, down from 2010, but up from the $9,000 raised in 2009.
Fundraising events included the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign, ‘Wall of Supporters’ for corporate contributors, Easter Beef Sale, Tim Hortons School Tour, Pool Tournaments, and a variety of events resulting from individual or group initiatives.
Hannah herself visited 63 schools in over six days during the Tim Hortons School Tour, which raised $35,000. Reticent to accept the position as 2010 Easter Seals Ambassador for PEI, Hannah ended up embracing her role with relish.
On July 4 Hannah delivered a heartfelt speech to Rotarians and other supporters in Charlottetown congratulating everyone for helping to make the campaign a big success. She repeated her campaign theme: “Believe in yourself and you will be amazed in what you can do.”
Easter Seals is tremendously grateful for Hannah for getting out of her comfort zone and inspiring so many to support Prince Edward Islanders with disabilities.
