When Jeneece Edroff was seven years old and raised $164 to support Variety - The ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Charity through a penny drive at Northridge elementary, her mother thought the fundraising effort was cute.
B次元官网网址淚 was proud that she was even able to do that,B次元官网网址� Angie Edroff said. B次元官网网址淏ut to see where sheB次元官网网址檚 come from to where sheB次元官网网址檚 arrived at today B次元官网网址� those are two very different perspectives.B次元官网网址�
Her daughter, diagnosed at the age of three with neurofibromatosis B次元官网网址� a disease which causes tumours to grow on nerve roots of her spine B次元官网网址� has gone from raising $27,000 in her second year with Variety to garnering millions for a range of causes, including the B.C. Neurofibromatosis Foundation and Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan. In 2009, Jeneece launched her dream project, Jeneece Place, a home-away-from-home for children (and their families) who require medical treatment in Victoria.
The campaign led to her receipt of a 2012 Changing Our World/Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, announced by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Nov. 15. Jeneece will be recognized this spring in Vancouver at the associationB次元官网网址檚 International Conference on Fundraising, the largest gathering of fundraisers in the world.
B次元官网网址淲hen I found out, I was absolutely astounded,B次元官网网址� Jeneece said. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 expect to win that huge award. It was out of the blue. It made my day.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 recognition for her B次元官网网址� spreading the word that we need to fix some things in our own backyard sometimes,B次元官网网址� Angie added. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 found a way to do that quite well and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e both quite proud of.B次元官网网址�
Now in Grade 12 at Claremont secondary school, Jeneece continues to travel to Vancouver for treatment. This year, she has endured two surgeries to remove tumours that were in the process of metastasizing from benign to malignant, as well as one knee surgery. She begins another round of chemotherapy this week.
B次元官网网址淗er fundraising has given her a way to redirect some of that pain that she feels and some of her worries into something else which is much more positive,B次元官网网址� Angie said.
Ninety-five per cent of the $5.5 million needed to construct Jeneece Place was raised in just 14 months, with the 17-year-old clocking hundreds of hours toward the effort. The facility is slated to open adjacent to Victoria General Hospital on Jan. 20 B次元官网网址� JeneeceB次元官网网址檚 birthday.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so glad itB次元官网网址檚 almost built because as soon as those doors open weB次元官网网址檙e going to be (helping) families,B次元官网网址� Jeneece said. B次元官网网址淓very time I see a helicopter, IB次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址楾hatB次元官网网址檚 a family that needs somewhere to stay. Right now thereB次元官网网址檚 nowhere to stay.B次元官网网址�
Andrew Watt, president and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals calls Jeneece a reminder that everyone, regardless of circumstance, can be a philanthropist and make an impact.
B次元官网网址淚f her story was just limited to overcoming (neurofibromatosis) and being able to walk, it would have been amazing,B次元官网网址� Watt said in a media release. B次元官网网址淏ut the astounding heights she has reached in bringing people together and raising funds B次元官网网址� generating millions of dollars before the age of 18 B次元官网网址� is phenomenal.B次元官网网址�
Jane Bowers, manager of special events for the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children, nominated Jeneece for the award after meeting B次元官网网址渢he little dynamoB次元官网网址� at the onset of the Jeneece Place project and collaborating ever since.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e grateful and inspired by everything that she does,B次元官网网址� Bowers said.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
Sidebar:
Help fill the house
The Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children, leaders of the Jeneece Place campaign, have registered the house at The Bay stores on Vancouver Island. Customers may now purchase household items needed to furnish and run the space B次元官网网址� from flatware to ironing boards B次元官网网址� at all Island locations or online by searching for Jeneece Place under the Bay Gift Registry at Hbc.com.
