Thanks also to the instructor Laurie Burdett who guided the students to create this wonderful event! Thanks to Cities Gastro Pub for opening their doors and providing excellent food (we heard many raves about the tomato bisque soup! but all the appetizers were very tasty). Thanks to Yuk Yuk’s for providing a sponsorship rate for comedians Sean Lecomber and Derek Sweet to get us all laughing (mostly at ourselves, but sometimes at them!).

We are really honoured to have been given this gift! Looking forward to determine the exact amount raised after expenses, and seeing how best to help our existing programs and new ideas to best serve our community.

Some persons with learning disabilities have very special talents in other areas. For example, some persons with dyslexia cannot easily read, but have superior verbal skills, or memory skills. Some persons with ADHD have become very successful and famous entertainers.

Please see our new Success Stories pages on this website, and get inspired!

(from the Red Deer Advocate, Feb 14, 2012)

A Red Deer teenager who overcame speech difficulties to gain skills through volunteerism and adventure was expected to receive an award from Canada’s Governor General today.

Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School student Kolton Streit is among the well-rounded Canadian youths selected to receive Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The Alberta awards will be presented in Calgary by Governor General David Johnston.

Streit took three years to complete the gold-level award program started by Prince Philip.

Streit volunteered with Red Deer seniors and youths, travelled to Costa Rica to study marine biology, took a leadership training program and worked towards a pilot’s license exam. He spent 52 weeks on a lifeguard course and trained towards a black belt in karate. Streit also attended a three-week cadet camp in Quebec on aerospace technology.

The 17-year-old, who was teased in school because of a severe speech disorder that he overcame with therapy, wants to become an RCMP officer after graduation.

Streit said getting the award is a thrill, but it was more important to accumulate all of the skills. “I had to do a lot of scavenger activities and spent two days in the wilderness on a survival trip.”

Kudos to McBride Career Group for having a charitable event as part of their curriculum, and many thanks to these hard-working students for choosing to benefit LDAA-Red Deer.

And, they’ve organized a great event! The students convinced Yuk Yuk’s comedians Derek Sweet and Sean Lecomber to entertain, and Cities Gastro Pub to host the event. They titled the event Laugh for Learning, and didn’t stop there, contacting many local businesses for gifts that will be profiled at the event during a silent auction.

We don’t have the full list of items yet, but we understand there is a Red Deer Rebels hockey stick autographed by the entire team!…And gift certificates for some of our nicest restaurants here in Red Deer. When we learn more, we will post again.

In the meantime, “save the date” for what looks like a very fun time, the result of lots of effort and generosity, and of course benefiting what we do here at LDAA-Red Deer to help persons with learning disabilities in Central Alberta.

Sunday, February 26, 2012, 5-9pm

Cities Gastro Pub, 3301 Gaetz Avenue, Red Deer

Highlights:

• Comedians Derek Sweet and Sean Lecomber from Yuk Yuks On Tour!
• Wine/beer tasting
• Silent Auction – autographed Red Deer Rebels hockey stick, and more!

Just $40 per ticket! Join us for an evening out at Cities Gastro Pub as we have fun and raise money for a great cause!

Tickets are limited – don’t be disappointed! Get your tickets from:

• Cities Gastro Pub
• McBride Career Group at 403-346-8599
• Amanda at 403-848-0865
• Laurie at 403-896-5523

Thanks to the many sponsors of the event for their cool auction items and product samples! And many thanks to the students of the McBride Career Group Basic Office Skills program.

Thanking you in advance for your support! Every dollar counts!!

If you missed our fundraiser and would like to contribute, please use the donate button on our website.  Donations over $20 qualify for a tax receipt and will be mailed if you provide your information.

Local girl rewarded for generosity

Natasha Walz donates tickets for raffle, receives them back

A Red Deer girl has been unexpectedly rewarded for her tremendous generosity shown earlier this month.

Natasha Walz, 12, wanted to help keep the Red Deer chapter of the Learning Disabilities Association of Central Alberta open as it’s been facing financial hardship of late.

She’s been really helped with her math skills by the LDAA, and wanted to give something back to help the local office keep their doors open.

For her birthday last month, she received three tickets to pop megastar Justin Bieber’s Edmonton concert in September. She later decided to donate the tickets to the LDAA so they could use them in a fundraising raffle.

Her generosity ultimately helped raise $1,100 for the LDAA, as an anonymous group purchased the tickets and then decided to return them to Natasha so she could attend the show.

“I thought it was really amazing,” said Natasha of the prospect of getting to see Bieber after all. “I had no idea this would happen, and I hadn’t even thought of it.”

Sheryl Krill, executive director of the LDAA, was thrilled with the donation and inspired by Natasha’s giving spirit.

Tiffany Sigurdson/Red Deer Express Natasha Walz of Red Deer donated her Justin Bieber concert tickets to the Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta for a fundraising raffle. The anonymous purchaser returned them to her so she can attend the concert after all

“Happy birthday Natasha and we hope that you enjoy the Justin Bieber concert package,” she said, adding that Natasha has discovered “that it is in the giving that we receive.

“Natasha’s story has also reached people who have never heard of our Association.”

Natasha’s mother Laura Freeman said since Natasha started with the LDAA her Grade six math mark soared from an E to an A. As for the ticket donation, it’s in her daughter’s nature to help out, she said.

Freeman recently signed on as president of the LDAA’s board as well, showing the family’s dedication to the organization that much more.

The LDAA has been serving families for the past 21 years but of late has been facing dire financial pressures. With provincial grants and other sources of funding having dried up over the past while closure this past spring had become a certainty unless new sources of money could be found.

Donations have come in to keep things going for now, but Krill said the real need is for sustainable funding.

The LDAA Red Deer Chapter receives referrals from psychologists, schools, teachers, doctors, Family and School Wellness, Children’s Services, Mental Health, the 49th Street Youth Centre, Neighbourhood Places and by word of mouth from clients.

Meanwhile, Krill said all proceeds from the ticket auction will benefit the operating budget of the Red Deer chapter of the LDAA.

“We appreciate the community’s concern and support for our survival and truly wish to serve for many years to come.”

In the meantime, anyone interested in donating to the LDAA is welcome to do so. Tax receipts for donations of $20 or more are also available. A major fundraiser is also in the works for late October.

For more information, call the LDAA office at 403-340-3885.