A fundraiser created by Mamas for Mamas will go towards a scholarship to honour KSS student Samara Haverko.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Mamas for Mamas
June 05, 2021 - 8:30 AM
Mamas for Mamas is rallying to support one of its own members by fundraising for a scholarship for students in the Indigenous community.
Last week, three Kelowna Secondary School students were killed in a car crash, including 17-year-old Samara Haverko.
Haverko’s mother Dawn Dionne is a long-time friend, family member of Mamas for Mamas CEO Shannon Christensen and board member for the non-profit. Mamas for Mamas is a national charitable organization that supports mothers and caregivers in crisis.
“(Dionne's) a part of ensuring we are culturally sensitive when we are providing our programs. We have an Indigenous support program here at Mamas for Mamas and we work with Indigenous advocates in the school district,” Christensen said.
“We just really have a passion for making sure that all children have access to the appropriate social determinants of health and Dawn has been an absolute champion in that regard, we just couldn’t do it without her.”
Dionne is grateful for the opportunity to pay for the funeral experiences through other fundraisers but she wanted to find a way to keep Haverko’s memory and advocacy alive by helping other youth as passionate as Haverko with a scholarship, Christensen said. According to Haverko’s GoFundMe page, she graduated a year early with honours and planned to become a marine biologist.
READ MORE: Fundraisers started for families of Kelowna students who died in car crash
The Mamas for Mamas fundraiser is aiming to raise $25,000 and is separate from the other online fundraisers. Any donation more than $20 will receive a tax receipt. Donations will go towards the creation of a KSS scholarship for Indigenous excellence for girls, Christensen said.
“There were so many people that were desperate to do something for Dawn and Samara that was beyond essential needs. We wanted to make this something that could be a celebration at one point for Dawn,” she said.
Donations are being accepted through the Mamas for Mamas website.
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