The annual My Community Awards for the United Way of Windsor-Essex County are recognizing St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School for innovation.
Students did things a bit differently by hosting a fundraiser modeled after the cooking show "Chopped" and focusing on how to cook on a budget.
"If you have limited financial resources and you have to cook a meal, how do you do that with limited resources?" says Lorraine Goddard, CEO of United Way.
She's happy to see students take an interest in the organization, which has stated priorities of reducing poverty, supporting families and strengthening neighbourhoods.
"Not that long ago I was talking to a student about United Way and they're like, 'Oh yeah you're the charity my grandpa gave to,'" says Goddard. "We're really working hard to connect with young people because they are our future."
The students were the recipients of the Innovation Award which recognizes a group or business for supporting the United Way in a fun, creative, unique and engaging way.
Eight awards in all were handed out at an event attended by about 400 guests at Caesars Windsor on Wednesday night.
