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10 * WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, December 26, 2007 en Hannah Miller was just 11 Weam old, her father asked the family if anyone was interestâ€" ed in volunteering with him at the Tree of Hope radiothon. Hannah agreed to go, and joined him the next morning answering pledge lines from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. _ "It just sounded like a good cause, said the 15â€"yearâ€"old. â€" "I wasn‘t really sure what to expect, but I wanted to go. It was something I had never done before." That experience has turned into a tradition â€" she‘s gone back each year and now has a more advanced role helping to train other volunteers throughout the twoâ€"day event. "It‘s really just a worthwhile experiâ€" ence to know that you‘re doing someâ€" thing with your time, and knowing that because of what you‘re doing it‘s going to make other people happy," she said. What‘s kept her coming back year after year is the cause that benefits from CHYM FM 96.7‘s radiothon: Famâ€" ily and Children‘s Services of Waterloo Region. "I realize I had such a privileged childhood, and 1 want to give other people the chances to have those expeâ€" riences." The Grade 10 Rockway Mennonite collegiate student has impressed the agency with her dedication, so much so they‘re nominating her for the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award. "There‘s nothing we can‘t ask her to do that she wouldn‘t be willing to do to help out," said Candace Harrington, the supervisor of fundraising and comâ€" munications for Family and Children‘s Services. "She can tell adults who come in to volunteer exactly where to go, how they‘re supposed to do what they do, and they listen to her." Waterloo teen makes a difference "And she does it selflessly. She doesâ€" n‘t do it for any kind of accolades." Hannah‘s contributions at the radioâ€" thon have made a significant differâ€" ence each year, she said. "We are so lucky to have her. "We thought we were really groovâ€" ing back then," Harrington said, adding $800 of that total went to buy Christmas presents for families the The Tree of Hope, which has been running for 15 years, has come a long way since its first radiothon when it raised about $1,200. MEMORY FOAM BED TOPPERS ® Promotes deep restful seap . ® Aelieves back pain and aching joints ® Helps reduce stress o us VISCO ELASTIC MEMORY FOAM By Jennirer OrMsTON _ _ Chronicle Staff * Greater contlort * Less tossing and tuming © Gives pressure ralief We Custom Cut Foam ... For Everything! ... JUST ASK! DECEMBER SPECIAL j n t â€" &2 * m ) TOPPERS N3A VUIKe NE )‘%&. 6 { f “‘- | + 3â€"lb 1?9(.;2’?95AT5(-;IET4;9.95 hx« <&o Z%'f'."«m pr y gmaneppeaens cui::g;e'zé ND for all fcgfc‘;mp« The organization‘s goal is to protect children from physical and emotional harm, and to provide kids with a nurâ€" turing environment in which to heal and grow. It also aims to give parents the help and opportunities they need to create a better life for their families. Hannah Miller, 15, has been volunteering with the CHYM FM 96.7 Tree of Hope Radiothon for the past five years answering pledge lines, among other duties. JENNIFER ORMSTON PHOTO agency works with. "Our real focus is on keeping the families together," she said. "Someâ€" times it‘s as simple as making sure there‘s food in the fridge so a child doesn‘t have to come in to care for that," she said. _ Right now about 500 children are in its care, and it works with 1,000â€"1,200 families in the community. At this year‘s radiothon, which was held on Dec. 13â€"14, $270,000 was raised; it will be used to buy Christmas presents, scholarships and run the agency‘s programs, among others. â€""That‘s the best year we‘ve ever had," Harrington said about the orgaâ€" nization‘s annual fundraiser. She doesn‘t know why â€" whether it‘s the fact most people have everyâ€" thing they want or need â€" but local residents want to do something special for others at Christmas. "This seems to be the way people do it, they want to help out another family," she said. â€" e The Millers sponsored two families this year, and bought items off their wish lists â€" including pyjamas, movies DECEMBER SPECIAL MEMORY FOAM PILLOWS A GREAT GIFT! 3â€"ib ©39.29 â€" 54b 549.95 4 2 "‘/' 4 {‘?‘\ (é.,_‘\:_«, . LIFESTYLE and board games â€" for both They had lots of fun shopping because they don‘t have many young kids in their family to buy toys for anyâ€" more, Hannah said. "After every present I bought, I was kind of thinking, what‘s their reaction going to be?" _ s To adopt a family over the holidays, donors buy $75 gifts for each family member. Adopting a youth is another option, and teen gifts are always in demand. Hannah plans to lend a hand at the Tree of Hope in 2008, which means she will have to miss some school again. "It‘s worth it, I‘ll catch up," she said. "I know missing school is bad, but it‘s for a good cause and my teachers understand." Her father, Rod Miller, doesn‘t mind if she misses classes for this cause. Harrington, meanwhile, said Hanâ€" nah sends a great message to the comâ€" munity about what teens can do. "People think youth are slackers," she said. "But here‘s a 15â€"yearâ€"old who is there only because she wants to help out and she‘s doing such a great job." "It‘s nice to see her getting involved," he said. Donations can still be made to the Tree of Hope campaign at any TD Canada Trust location, online at www.facswaterloo.org or by calling 519â€"576â€"1329. Foam Store for all your upholstery needs NEW FOAM CUSHIONS CHRON The for all marine applications PADDING Skills for Healing â€" for cancer patients, their families and caregivers â€" will help people develop new skills to achieve a deep sense of inner strength, creativity and positive energy. This workshop is on Jan. 18 from 10 a.m.â€"noon. Music Therapy ~ for cancer patients, their famiâ€" lies and caregivers â€" will teach people how music can have a positive effect on the body and mind, by reducing stress and enhancing the functioning of the immune system. It‘s on Jan. 18 from 1:30 p.m.â€"3 p.m. Law of Attraction Two â€" for cancer patients, their families and caregivers â€" is about the power of positive intention and its ability to change an indiâ€" vidual‘s way of being in the world. A light lunch will be served. It‘s on Jan. 25 from 10 a.m.â€"3 p.m. Please note that you must have attended part one of this workshop. All Friday workshops are at the HopeSpring Canâ€" cer Support Centre, 43 Allen St. W., Waterloo. _ They‘re free of charge. Please register by calling 519â€"742â€"4673. Ballet Jorgen Canada‘s Nutcracker returns to the Centre in the Square on Dec. 28, 2007, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. â€" s q delight for the young and the young at heart, the agical The Nutcracker is a family holiday tradiâ€" tion the world over. The Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo Symphony and the Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir join Ballet Jorgen Canada for these performances, continuing the annual Nutcracker community tradition. Fortyâ€"one students from dance schools in the Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo area have been selected by Balâ€" let Jorgen Canada to join the company‘s professional cast for the Kitchenerâ€" Waterloo performances and on tour. All seats are reserved. Adult ticket prices range from $33 to $53, child prices range from $21 to $29. This is an eyeGO performance. Tickets are now on sale at the Centre in the Square box office at 519â€"578â€"1570 or 1â€"800â€"265â€"8977 or online at www.centreâ€"square.com. 360 Trillium Dr. Kitchener Series of cancerâ€"related workshops to be held in January series of Friday workshops is being held in Janu p ERGONOMIC and RV needs ‘ SEAT PADS & BOLSTERS & ractory outiet w22« The Nutcracker ballet continues its local holiday tradition 519.748.1491 fi NEW HOURS: Mon. â€" Thurs. 8â€"6, Fri. 8â€"4 all your camping >