Markham Stouffville Review, May 2023
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MAY <strong>2023</strong><br />
COMMUNITY 5 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW<br />
Youth-led organization hosts spring gala to honour seniors<br />
BY JENNIFER MCLAUGHLIN<br />
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter<br />
Singing, dancing, instrumental<br />
performances, poetry, and even a catwalk<br />
show were among the features at the South<br />
Unionville Greet the Spring and Respect<br />
for the Elderly Gala recently held at Infinity<br />
Strings in <strong>Markham</strong>.<br />
The event was organized and hosted<br />
by the J.A. Children’s Public Foundation<br />
(JACPF), a <strong>Markham</strong> non-profit organization<br />
established in March 2022. The foundation<br />
encourages youth involvement in the<br />
community.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> youths Julia Guzman and<br />
Alysha Xu are JACPF’s presidents. As primary<br />
organizers of the gala, the ambitious<br />
students designed and distributed posters to<br />
encourage performers to sign-up, financed<br />
the host venue and sought event sponsors<br />
who donated raffle prizes and gifts for participants.<br />
With several adult performers scheduled<br />
to participate, Guzman and Xu used<br />
their creativity to encourage more youth<br />
to take part. They trained kids to perform<br />
poetry recitations and a catwalk show while<br />
preparing for their own singing and dancing<br />
performances.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>-Unionville MP Paul Chiang<br />
$120,000 raised for the Canadian<br />
Red Cross to support Turkiye and<br />
Syria Earthquake Relief<br />
MP Paul Chiang presents JACPF presidents Julia Guzman (left) and Alysha Xu (right) with certificates<br />
in recognition of their efforts within the community. (Photo supplied by JACPF)<br />
attended the gala. Guzman and Xu thanked<br />
Chiang and his staff for supporting JACPF<br />
and the event.<br />
Chiang presented Guzman and Xu with<br />
certificates to acknowledge their efforts<br />
within the community. He praised them for<br />
contributing to a bright future for <strong>Markham</strong><br />
and its residents.<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> Sunglow Senior members<br />
contributed to the event with dance and<br />
choir performances. The group’s president<br />
Li Zengchun thanked JACPF for holding<br />
the gala in honour of <strong>Markham</strong>’s senior<br />
community and presented Guzman and Xu<br />
with certificates.<br />
Since its inception, JACPF members<br />
have performed twice for <strong>Markham</strong> seniors.<br />
The Greet the Spring gala was the organization’s<br />
first event to draw together performers<br />
from throughout the community.<br />
During their welcome speech, Guzman<br />
and Xu referred to the saying, “As large as<br />
the heart is, the road will be as long.”<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> is fortunate that the road<br />
ahead for these young community leaders is<br />
undoubtedly long and impactful<br />
(L-R): <strong>Markham</strong> <strong>May</strong>or Frank, Ifhtia Haque (Canadian Red Cross); Michael Bender<br />
(Title Sponsor); Michael Lin(Diamond Sponsor); Regional Councillor Alan Ho.<br />
Regional Councillor Alan Ho and<br />
<strong>Markham</strong> <strong>May</strong>or Frank Scarpitti recently<br />
hosted a successful fundraising event<br />
named “<strong>Markham</strong>’s Helping Hands Turkiye<br />
& Syria Earthquake Relief ” at Xinfilx<br />
Media.<br />
The fundraiser was aimed at providing<br />
much-needed aid and assistance to those<br />
affected by the devastating earthquakes that<br />
struck Turkiye and Syria in February <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
“This earthquake has left thousands of<br />
families without homes or food. Many of<br />
them have lost loved ones, and their lives<br />
have been forever changed,” Ho said. “I<br />
had the privilege of hosting two previous<br />
earthquake donation events many years ago,<br />
and I cannot begin to imagine how people<br />
suffer after a sudden disaster.<br />
“The outpouring of support and<br />
compassion from our community has been<br />
truly remarkable. I’m humbled to see the<br />
continued support of our community for<br />
this cause. Their kindness has shown that<br />
even in the face of disaster, we can unite<br />
as a community and positively impact the<br />
world.”<br />
The event raised over $120,000, and all<br />
the donations were directed to the Canadian<br />
Red Cross. Thanks to various donors who<br />
came from across the city and beyond to<br />
support this cause.<br />
“There’s one thing that connects us in a<br />
very strong way, and that is humanity when<br />
we see a country that has faced hardship<br />
and devastation, and the images that we’ve<br />
seen over the past several weeks have truly<br />
been heartbreaking.” <strong>May</strong>or Frank Scarpitti<br />
said, “We don’t have a large Turkish<br />
and Syrian community here in the city of<br />
<strong>Markham</strong>, but numbers aren’t what motivates<br />
us. Compassion is what motivates us,<br />
so I think <strong>Markham</strong>’s Helping Hands reflect<br />
the spirit of <strong>Markham</strong>.”<br />
Ho and Scarpitti credited the success of<br />
the fundraiser to their volunteer team’s hard<br />
work and dedication, who put together an<br />
exciting and memorable event.<br />
For more information on how you can<br />
contribute, visit redcross.ca/turkiyesyriaappeal/alanho.