My name is Darren Foley and I grew up in the wonderful community of Crooked Creek, an hour east of Grande Prairie. Attended Ridgevalley School from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and then helped my parents run the Crooked Creek Store for a couple years before going to Grande Prairie Regional College and then the University of Alberta to complete a Bachelor of Education Degree.
Whispering Ridge Community School has a banner to hang in the new school, after winning the inaugural Ryan Wagner Memorial Award. The school was presented the award for raising over $5,000 dollars for the 3D Children’s Charity last year, the most money raised by all the schools in Grande Prairie for the charity.
Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) joined with Grande Prairie Public School Division (GPPSD) and Grande Prairie Catholic School Division (GPCSD) in a joint Friends of Education Award presentation to the 3D Children’s Charity during a special luncheon this week, part of the annual Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Zone 1 meeting in Peace River.
Three NHL legends will be in Grande Prairie for the 3D Children’s Charity Gala.
Former Oiler great, Paul Coffey, who won three Stanley Cups with the Oilers, and one with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Lanny MacDonald, who won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames, will both be in attendance for the event. Hosting the event will be Hockey Night in Canada’s Ron MacLean.
The 3D Children’s Society has found themselves in the middle of a national, hot button issue.
The charity is set to host its 20th anniversary Gala on December 2, which is to be headlined by none other than Ron MacLean, who many have differing views on since his long-time Coach’s Corner partner Don Cherry was fired by Sportsnet back on November 11.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, the charity says they have since been receiving many negative and threatening emails about MacLean’s appearance here in Grande Prairie.
The 3D Children’s Charity has received a staggering donation from Grande Prairie Auto Group. A total of $27,500 was donated by its Nissan, Chrysler, Subaru, and Hyundai dealerships, raised by contributing $100 from each vehicle sale through the month of October.
Darren Foley, Chair of the 3D Children’s Society, says he’s blown away by the amount raised for the charity, which was approached by the dealerships with the idea.
“That’s more than I would have ever expected; it’s the largest single donation we’ve ever had,” he says. “All the funds go to kids [who are] travelling to children’s hospitals.”
