Gifts that Give event set for this Sunday

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Aileen Hill's belief in the arts and her love of children help her send youth from local at-risk neighbourhoods to fine arts camp each year. And she's counting on this Sunday's (Dec. 7) Gifts that Give auction at Cedar Ridge to help her reach this year's goal.

In 2005, Hill created the project Precious Gems after attending a self-empowerment course with a theme of giving back to the community.

She chose to give back by providing youth with the financial assistance to go to fine arts camp at Scarborough's Cedar Ridge Creative Centre.

Since then she has helped send more than 50 children from the Kingston-Galloway and Orton Park neighbourhoods to the camp.

"I believe in the arts, and I believe in children having the opportunity to express themselves," Hill said.

She selected Camp Expressions at Cedar Ridge because it runs for two weeks in the summer and offers children a chance to experience many mediums, such as, painting, videography, pottery and more.

"It's really giving them (children) an expose to something they would not normally have and may not normally afford to go to," she said.

The cost of sending one child to the camp for two weeks is $250. And in the winter, during the March Break it's $150 per child for one week. Hill has raised enough money to get kids to camp in the summer and winter.

Although this project sounds like a full-time job, Hill does not work in the industry, she works for Four Seasons hotels, and she's not a parent - she simply believes in the arts and children, she said.

She added that she could not have undertaken this project alone. She's received a great deal of help - especially from Toronto Cultural Services and the Toronto District School Board.

These two groups have helped her grassroots project grow to where it is today.

Toronto Culture holds the spots for Hill while she raises the money. And the school board selects the students for the program from Willow Park Junior Public School and St. Margaret's Public School.

Students write a paragraph about why they want to attend art camp. And once the students complete the camp they write another paragraph about the experience.

Hill collects the comments each year - and that's how she knows art camp "was a hit".

Each year, she takes photographs of the participants' artwork and with these images compiles a calendar, which sells for $25, with the funds going toward the Precious Gems project. It will be available to purchase at Sunday's event.

And Gifts that Give was created with children and families in mind.

Past students of the Precious Gems project, who have attended Camp Expressions, have been invited to the event to help decorate gingerbread men and a gingerbread house that will be part of a raffle, which is also a fundraiser for the project.

There will also be a storyteller for the children to enjoy.

Hill's goal is to raise $2,000.

In the future, she sees the program offering children the opportunity to experience other aspects of the arts such as music and dance.

"I think this will now be my life work," she said.

For more details about Precious Gems project or to purcahse a calendar, e-mail preciousgemsproject@hotmail.com.

Gifts that Give silent art auction fundraiser is Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m at Cedar Ridge, 225 Confederation Dr.

On auction will be paintings, photography, fibre art, pottery, sculpture, and a selection of handmade fine art and craft items priced from $20 and up. Admission and parking are free. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Precious Gems. Call 416-396-4026.