This text is part of the special Philanthropy section
The mission of the Grand Sapin de Sainte-Justine is to illuminate, thanks to the generosity of Quebecers, the lives of children and families forced to spend the holiday season at CHU Sainte-Justine. Its fundraising campaign gives a very special mission to the students of private schools since it is up to them to make the base of this large tree shine with $ 5 per candle. To kick off this campaign, the efforts of students in the Bachelor of Business Administration at HEC Montréal should also be highlighted, since they raised no less than $ 132,000, which allows us to light 26,400 candles. .
Catherine Brunet, darling young actress since her presence in the series The cottage, broadcast on Vrak TV, and Pascal Morrissette, youth host we see in particular in Crazy pig, at Télé-Québec, are the faces of this campaign to motivate young people to get involved. They agreed to answer questions from the Special Publications team of the To have to.
Why did you agree to be the faces of the Grand Sapin jeunesse de Sainte-Justine campaign?
Pascal Morrissette (PM): Seeing young people mobilize for other young people is what touched me. In life, my hobbyhorse is to help young people. Then, I have already visited children at CHU Sainte-Justine and I found the place inspiring. I have a lot of energy in my life, so good if I can use it to become a spark plug for young people. And if our youth manage to illuminate the base of the tree, the rest of society can take charge of igniting what is above by contributing in turn!
Catherine Brunet (CB): No one can not be touched by the children who are in Sainte-Justine. When I was approached last year, in the midst of COVID when I myself had sick people in my family, I knew very well how the isolation created by the pandemic has made things even more so. difficult for those receiving hospital care. I find that lighting up a tree is such a simple and beautiful gesture: there is something magical about it.
How do you see your impact on young people?
PM: Last year, we wanted to be able to light 50,000 candles and we had 100,000. It worked really well. By being present on social networks, with Catherine, we are shedding light on the cause. We motivate the young people, but then they go to collect money from their loved ones or on the web.
CB: I’ve always wanted to give in one way or another. When you do a public job, you get a lot of recognition, a lot of love. It’s the fun, but often, we feel that this notoriety is useless. I try to use it to do good around me. I do my best to make a difference, but it is above all the young people who do an extraordinary job with the Grand sapin jeunesse de Sainte-Justine. In addition to getting them to give for a great cause, this project allows young people to discover philanthropy and, who knows, to create the philanthropists of the future.