Paula Ethans' Story

Every day, we are amazed at the generosity and thoughtfulness of our donors. Paula Ethans has shown us that you can never be too young to start giving. The Winnipeg native has given increasingly large gifts: $200, $300, $500.

The thing that makes this particularly remarkable? Paula was just nine when she made her first donation.

The desire to help

She raised money through garage sales, babysitting, chores around the house - even her own allowance. Instead of spending the money on movies or clothes like many girls her age, Paula decided to help others around the world. Read the letter she wrote to us, where Paula explains in her own words why she chose to donate.

Thank you Paula, for your continuing dedication to helping those in need, and for setting such an admirable example for us all to follow.

Dear CARE,

Crisis in Sudan, bombing in Iraq, poverty in Afghanistan, I realize the reason why you send me letters and pictures of all these events. You're trying to show how lucky I am, how much I have compared to these other kids. You want me to realize I have so much to give. Well, you don't have to worry. Ever since the summer of 2002 after watching a commercial about starving kids in Afghanistan I have realized all of those things. My name is Paula and I'm 11 years old, this is my third year of donating to CARE Canada. I hope you take the money I have donated and appreciate it, because though I may have a lot more than the children in Afghanistan I still had to work very hard for this money. I raised this money by allowance, sugar-free diet, odd jobs around the house, winning bingo, and holding a garage sale. This year I have raised enough to donate $500 to the Women and Children in Afghanistan.

Yours truly,
Paula Ethans