A $30,000 donation from Kathy and Peter Lacey will help students at Aspen Heights Elementary School build entrepreneurial skills, explore business and learn the importance of contributing to their community through the school's MicroSociety program.
The donation was made in memory of Kathy's late father, Jack Donald, a longtime Red Deer businessman and entrepreneur who believed strongly in the value of hard work, business education and giving back to the community.
For Kathy, supporting MicroSociety was a natural way to honour her father's legacy and share the values he instilled in his family.
"My dad was a businessman who worked hard and was very successful. He believed that learning the basics of business was essential and that every young person should have the chance to be an entrepreneur if they wanted to," said Kathy, as she addressed the students at Aspen Heights during their MicroSociety Swearing In Assembly. "My parents always taught me that it was important to work hard and to always give something back. MicoSociety seemed like the perfect way to honour my dad."
MicroSociety transforms the school into a simulated community where students take on roles and responsibilities that mirror those found in the broader community. Through hands-on experiences, students can explore areas such as business, government, employment and civic responsibility while developing skills in collaboration, problem-solving, communication and financial literacy.
The Laceys' donation will help support Aspen Heights' MicroSociety program and provide opportunities for students to continue developing these skills through authentic, experiential learning.
"The future success of our community depends on all of you," said Kathy, as she continued to address the students. "Listen, learn and contribute. Pay attention and learn how to make our community even stronger by what you learn at MicroSociety. Think about what you can contribute to your community to improve it."
Kathy added the lessons students learn through MicroSociety extend well beyond the classroom.
"We give back to our community because we believe it's the responsibility of the citizens to build the community that we want to live in," she said.
For Principal Nathan Good, the donation represents both meaningful support for students today and an investment in the kind of community members they can become.
"This generous donation allows us to strengthen a program that gives students the opportunity to learn by doing," he said. "MicroSociety helps students see that skills they are developing in school have real-world applications and that they each have a role in building a stronger community. We are incredibly grateful to Kathy and Peter for honouring Jack's legacy in such a meaningful way and investing in our students."
The donation will help Aspen Heights continue providing students with authentic opportunities to explore entrepreneurship, develop practical skills and understand the connection between individual contributions and a thriving community.
