Funds raised through the STA Walkathon serve a dual purpose.
A portion of the proceeds go toward enhancing student programs and facilities at the school. Just as important, there is a charitable component of all Walkathon monies raised. Each graduating class uses their charitable Walkathon monies in a major donation to make a difference in the lives of families and children in different parts of the world. The purpose behind the initiative is that our graduates leave an important legacy and provide inspiration for future graduates.
How does it work?
Every Grade 8 class entering the school allocates 20 percent of the Walkathon monies raised for charitable purposes. Twenty percent of the money they raised is then banked and accumulated over their five years at St. Thomas Aquinas. In Grade 12, the graduating class decides where the accumulated funds would be donated.
Usually there is a connection between the charity chosen and one or more students in the graduating class.
We have helped:
Class of 2023: Donated $10,000 to Tumaini Children’s Foundation in Usa River, Tanzania to rescue a 14-year old from a life as a child bride and provide shelter, education, food, clothing and a future fo her teenage years. Click here to see her powerful testimony.
- Class of 2021: Donated $8,000 to Better Venezuelan Society to help children suffering from malnutrition and $4,000 to Development and Peace to help the Honduran Centre for the Promotion of Community Development.
- Class of 2020: Donated $5,000 to Doctors Without Borders and another $5,000 to help those displaced or affected in war-torn Yemen.
- Class of 2019: Donated $12,161 divided between Pope Francis Village in Tacloban City in the Philippines, to help families recovering from Typhoon Haiyan, and Embrace Rwanda to aid in early childhood education and health care.
- Class of 2017: Donated $12,589 to the Salesians of Don Bosco on the island of Cebu in the Philippines for outreach programs with the poor and to help furbish their schools.
- Class of 2012: Donated $11,300 to the Prishan Foundation to help build an orphanage for girls in Rayagada, India.