Winner of Mackenzie Investments' 2011 Top Teen Philanthropy Search Announced

Alaina Podmorow

Alaina Podmorow is a teen who wants to change the world, and she has taken one more step in that direction by donating $5,000 to a registered charity after being named “Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist” in Mackenzie Investments’ fourth annual national search.

As Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist of 2011, Alaina receives a $5,000 donation, directed in her name, to Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan. She also personally receives $2,500.

For more than five years, Alaina has worked on her grassroots charity, Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan, which supports the education of women and girls in Afghanistan. The charity raises money to pay for teachers’ salaries, train teachers and provide libraries for rural villages. Alaina believes education is the stepping stone towards peace and has donated more than 2,000 hours to her cause. Her efforts to date have raised more than $35,000.

Mackenzie also recognized the fine efforts of five additional teens with $500 each to be directed to the charity of their choice, as well as $500 cash:

Perri Tutelman, 18, Richmond, BC: Perri is the founder of Cures for Kids Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for children’s immunological disorders. More than $100,000 dollars has been raised through Perri’s efforts which were supported by the foundation’s signature fundraising event, the “Making Magic Show”.

Achan Akwai Chaam, 18, Ottawa, ON: Achan has stopped keeping track of the amount of hours she volunteers for her local Boys and Girls club because they helped her so much and in her words, "they deserve my time". A new Canadian who was born in Sudan, she found solace in the club that offered a place to learn and grow. She is now an active volunteer, member and Junior Youth worker with the organization.

Laura Wallace, 19, Devon, AB: Volunteering for her sister’s charity, the Olive Tree Foundation, Laura lived for a year in Haiti where she helped the organization with its work serving the women and children of Jacmel, Haiti, by providing maternity care at a fully functioning birthing centre. Before she travelled there, Laura also helped fundraise for this worthy cause.

Peter Gatti, 17, Toronto, ON: As a leukemia survivor, Peter supports the charity Tour for Kids Atlantic – an organization that raises money to support camps for childhood cancer patients through cycling events such as rides across Canada, weekend provincial rides and in-school stationary bike rides. These camps are free, and fully medically staffed and are often the only camps that cancer patients can attend. Along with volunteering, Peter also completed a 2000 kilometer bike ride from Vancouver to Austin, Texas to help raise money for this cause.

Leena Bourne, 17, Petrolia, ON: Creator of Love Beads for Leukemia, Leena developed this fundraising program to help her cope with the stress of having a father diagnosed with the disease. Her main goal of making the beaded bracelets is to spread hope, and with more than $30,000 raised going directly towards Cancer Research, and to children's cancer programs at the London Regional Cancer Clinic, she is doing just that.

Finding Canada’s Top Teen Philanthropist

Candidates were judged on a number of factors, including: the breadth of their volunteering and fundraising efforts, their leadership and creativity, their hands-on involvement in their philanthropic pursuits, the length and level of their involvement and the impact on their community and their charity.   

Along with Jane Wu (2008 winner), a panel of high profile individuals selected this year’s winner and finalists. They included: Craig Keilberger, founder of Free The Children; Danielle Bedasse, Executive Director, Jays Care Foundation; Carlos Bustamante, Host, YTV’s The Zone; and Brad Offman, Vice President, Strategic Philanthropy, Mackenzie Investments.