Kuper Academy - Community Service

Giving back to the community is an integral part of the philosophy of Kuper Academy. The goal of our community service program is to help those in need as well as to foster a tradition of lifelong philanthropy in our students.

Every autumn, the entire Kuper community works together on a major campus-wide fundraiser which takes the form of a walk-a-thon.

In the past we have supported the Quebec Society for Disabled Children, raising over $150,000 to renovate Camp Papillon for disabled children. In 2013, Kuper began supporting The War Amps and in particular their Child Amputee Program, raising funds to provide free prosthetic devices for deserving children. In 2018 we worked with Dans la rue to provide food and warm clothing to homeless youth. This year we are raising funds and food for the West Island Mission, a local food bank.

Every month a free-dress day is organized with the proceeds going to various charities including, but not limited to: the Cure Foundation, Kids Help Phone, the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, West Island Palliative Care and the Sainte-Justine's Hospital Foundation. One free-dress day that is particularly meaningful is our support of Paolo's Garden Fund, in memory of Paolo Santoro, a Kuper student who passed away from cancer while attending Kuper Academy.

In the high school, community service hours are a requirement. Some students work within the school, either volunteering in the library, creating art for hospitals, peer-tutoring, or helping in the daycare. However, most students do their service out in the community, working with seniors, acting as assistant coaches, volunteering at sporting tournaments, helping with animal care organizations, and doing fundraising activities such as bagging groceries or wrapping gifts during the holidays for specific causes. Some intrepid students travel to other countries such as Haiti, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Ecuador to provide humanitarian aid or to build schools and water systems.

Grade eight students participate in a Christmas luncheon for 150 local seniors who may be lonely during the holidays. The chef prepares a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. The students play and sing to entertain their guests and then present them with presents and Christmas cookies to take home.

From those to whom much is given, much is expected.

Kuper Academy provides support for the growth of many student-led charity funds and awareness groups, such as: Saving Mothers, Locks of Love, The Multiple Sclerosis Group, the Green Team, Free the Children, the Hema-Quebec Annual Blood Drive Team, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma campaign, for which Kuper has won a national award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Because we believe firmly in the value of giving, The Kuper Academy community service program will continue to grow as a medium through which students can contribute to the world around them.