ACPR Charity Campaign ‘Audrey’s Star’ Raises $25,000 for Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice

Posted on Friday, April 12th, 2024

Algonquin College Public Relations students have helped raise more than $25,000 – with support from the Senators Community Foundation – for Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice, a pediatric hospice that provides end-of-life care and bereavement support to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Level 2 Public Relations students at Algonquin College gather for a group photo in the winter 2024 term prior to the launch of the Audrey's Star campaign.

Level 2 Public Relations students at Algonquin College gather for a group photo in the winter 2024 term prior to the launch of the Audrey’s Star campaign.

The students named their campaign Audrey’s Star in honour of Audrey, the daughter of one of their classmates, who died just shy of her fourth birthday while receiving care from Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. This year, in a program first, the Senators Community Foundation matched the students’ fundraising total up to $10,000. Additional campaign support was provided by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation, including donations and the use of the Jasper the Bear mascot.

“It’s truly inspiring to witness young people rallying together to take on this special fundraising effort. Their dedication, collaboration, and hard work not only reflect their commitment to children and families but also serve as an example of how everyone can make a difference. Our decision to match Algonquin’s gift, up to $10,00, was because we believe the power of coming together to create positive change in Ottawa, especially for children and families. It’s heartening to see the students coming together to make a difference in their community,” said Jacqueline Belsito, President, Senators Community Foundation.

The campaign, which started in March, revolved around eight fundraising events. These include three events held on campus: a “Tropical Fusion” dance night in partnership with several campus clubs, a book fair and a thrift shop. You can learn more about the campaign and events at acprcampaign.com.

“It was an exciting opportunity for me and my entire class to work on this project (charity campaign) that gave us hands-on experience in the public relations field while raising money for children at the Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice. We are so proud to have the Senators Community Foundation as our campaign partner and they walked extra miles to support this great cause,” said Liam Mckillen, sponsorship coordinator of the Audrey’s Star campaign.

The campaign project incorporates assignments in five level 2 PR classes, including social media, design and media and influencer relations. Learners gain hands-on experience practicing their PR skills while giving back to the community.

“The Audrey’s Star campaign has been an incredible learning experience for our students. They not only had a chance to put their PR skills to work promoting our campaign brand, they also learned to communicate with great sensitivity and care around a difficult subject. We couldn’t have asked for a better charity to work with than Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice,” said Lara Mills, professor and Program Coordinator for the public relations program.

The Algonquin College Public Relations (ACPR) program has run a campaign every year since 1986 to fundraise for a local charity and give students hands-on experience to succeed in the public relations field. To date, ACPR learners have raised close to $500,00 in support of local organizations including CHEO, Candlelighters, and the John Howard Society.

Visit the Public Relations program page to learn more about this program.


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