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May 2007 Blogs

May 2007 GCDA Magazine

Girls Honouring Outstanding Women

INSPIRATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN, May 2007, by Linda Merifield


Girls Honouring Outstanding Women


Calgary Girls SchoolThe students of the Calgary Girls’ School have created a special annual event to celebrate women who have made an outstanding impact on others. Students have the opportunity to nominate such a woman. By nominating her, she is not only celebrating that woman’s accomplishments, she is thanking her for what she has done for the student herself, and others. These women are ones who have made a difference in the life of the student…sports coaches, mentors, relatives…anyone! The School Senate then selects a number of recipients from the nominees for this recognition, and then holds a Women’s Eve Gala to present the awards.

While the Women’s Eve Gala allows the school to honour a special group of women, at the same time they raise money through raffles for the future education of young women. Money raised during the Gala goes towards scholarships for Calgary Girls’ School students.

Kayla and PattiOne of this year’s recipients, Patti Zabot, is the mother of Kayla, a Grade 5 student at the Calgary Girl’s School. Tragedy stuck their family 8 years ago when Kayla’s young sister, Brianne, became progressively ill with a rare form of a neurological disease. After putting up a brave battle for four years, young Brianne passed away listening to her favourite music.

Kayla and Brianne’s mother, Patti,  is honoured for her courage and determination to help not only her daughter but others like her. Patti chose to use this life experience to produce the most positive outcome possible. She started fund raising small… garage sales, book sales and then several walkathons. After Brianne’s death, Patti started a registered non-profit company named Brianne’s LEAP of Hope. It is dedicated to raising public awareness into rare, childhood, metabolic diseases, especially those that affect the white matter of the brain. Since the day Brianne was diagnosed in 2002, family, friends, community and strangers have raised $83,000.00! This is the dream of one person who chose to honour her daughter’s life. The Calgary Girls’ School has made a great gesture in publicly recognizing the achievements of ordinary women who make extraordinary contributions to the lives of others.

Who would you nominate? What has your student council done to support and honour outstanding girls or women? Write to us, we may publish your story!

~ Linda

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