Supporting AIM

Times Reporter

 

Happy to have profits left over from the Strathmore High School Grad Banquet, which they had organized, Gisela Kost and Janell Peltonen wanted to donate it to charity. After putting $1,000 away into a fund for next year’s organizers, Kost and Peltonen had to determine where to donate it. The women, who are also teachers at Brentwood Elementary wanted to donate the profits to something which affects the students.

“We weren’t sure at first. We asked for suggestions from the committee and this was brought up and we thought it was a perfect fit. We wanted local, we wanted something that would affect our grade 12 graduates sort of thing, for me this flowed, it just flowed perfect,” said Peltonen. 

The organization, which fit perfectly for Kost and Peltonen, is the Foothills Advocacy in Motion Society, AIM.  

“One of the ladies that they have both worked with is still in the school system for one more year, but she’ll probably be transitioning to AIM next year,” said Craig McKenzie, Program Manager for AIM. Chelsey Greig is a recent Grade 12 graduate but she will be returning to school for one more year before she makes the transition to AIM. Greig was the one who officially presented the cheque for $1720.02 to another former Brentwood student, Marissa Ray.

Currently there are 13 clients at AIM, though there are more who are waiting for their funding to be approved. AIM recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, during which they held an open house for the public to find out more about them. The company is a support system for people with disabilities and is there to help each person achieve success no matter what it means to them. The school system helps people with disabilities until they’re 18-years-old at which point AIM will take over if requested.