Toonie birthday party raises funds for Lansdowne Kids

Ainsley Harvey-Porat, 6, donated $45 from her birthday to Lansdowne Children’s Centre.

When Ainsley Harvey-Porat brought her donation to Lansdowne Children’s Centre, it was carefully taped up to make sure the coins inside wouldn’t roll out and decorated with sparkly gemstone stickers.

Ainsley’s birthday party was in April. She and her twin sister, Brynn, had a toonie party.

Shannon Harvey, the girls’ mom, explained, “If someone was thinking about bringing a present, we suggested that they bring a toonie. Half of the money would go to a charity of choice and then with half of the money (the girls) could choose a present or a book.”

As Brynn noted, some of the guests “brought presents and toonies.”

Sisters (l-r) Ainsley and Brynn Harvey-Porat collected donations for the charities of their choice as part of their sixth birthday celebrations in April. Ainsley chose to donate her money to Lansdowne Children’s Centre, where her mom works as an Occupational Therapist.

Brynn’s charity of choice was the World Wildlife Fund, to help animals.

Meanwhile,

“I did Lansdowne,” Ainsley said, “Because I like helping people.”

Her mom is an Occupational Therapist at Lansdowne, which offers programs and support for babies, children and teens with communications, developmental and/or physical differences in the Grand Erie area.

Ainsley raised a total of $45, which she presented to Lansdowne.

While she’d never done a toonie party before, Ainsley said she thinks she’ll do it again next year.

The donation was just one example of Ainsley’s generous spirit. On the day she came to Lansdowne Children's Centre for child development in Brantford to drop off the money, she also brought a present she’d made for one of her mom’s coworkers.

If you would like to be like Ainsley and make a donation to support programs and services for babies, children and teens with physical, communication and/or developmental needs, you can click here to make an online donation and learn more about making a gift to Lansdowne Children's Centre for child development.