A Lacombe Composite High School student has been awarded the Violet Richardson Award from Soroptimist International of Central Alberta.
The Violet Richardson Award recognizes female youths aged 14-17 who show strong volunteer involvement and leadership that contribute to improvement of their community and the world. It is named for the president of the first Soroptimist Club.
Brianna Ericson received the regional award which consisted of $500 for her and $500 for a charity of her choosing.
As a longtime supporter of the Lacombe-based charity A Better World, Ericson chose to donate the additional $500 them.
A Better World has matched her donation, and Ericson has chosen projects in Kenya and Red Deer to receive the funds.
“Involving young people at an early age gives great hope in making this world better,” says Eric Rajah, executive director of A Better World.
The donation will buy tricycles and ladders for the Kadesh Baby Home and Orphanage in Kenya, to be used in physiotherapy for children with physical disabilities. It will also pay for feminine kits for Red Deer’s Alternative School Centre, which educates at-risk youth.
Ericson has volunteered her time in numerous capacities around Lacombe. She volunteers with the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre, the Lacombe First Baptist Church and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She has advanced to several leadership roles as a trainer, mentor and teacher in her numerous volunteer positions, including co-chairing the Child and Youth Advisory Council for the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
In addition to this, she also played violin with the Rosedale Valley Strings Orchestra.
The youth orchestra’s Music with a Mission program raises funds through concerts and CD sales. It has partnered with A Better World over the course of many years, supporting the building of numerous schools and water projects in East Africa, as well as local projects in Alberta.