Joe Gold loves superheroes.
That’s why it’s no surprise, as principal of Brownridge Public School, he excitedly gets his staff and students engaged in the annual campaign.
“I believe in community, I believe in helping others, and I believe in an understanding of the world around us,” he says.
“I believe that kids need to be aware of that and recognize that there are others out there with different abilities and we need to understand and appreciate those differences.”
Joe was introduced to Capes for Kids after a parent of one of his students brought it to his attention. Since then, he’s been connected with teachers to turn the campaign into a school-wide fundraising activity.
While Joe, usually, buys t-shirts and brings them to the school for students to DIY into their own capes, this year looks a little different thanks to COVID-19.
“One of the superhero teachers at Brownridge, will be hosting a virtual “Make a Cape” evening for students at Brownridge. We will be inviting students to find an old t-shirt and they will cut it into a cape and then decorate it,” says Joe.
The school also plans to send communications to students’ families encouraging them to continue the adventure of making a difference for others, like donating to Holland Bloorview.
“The students love wearing a cape and lot of them express an appreciation in knowing that Holland Bloorview exists and they’re making a difference for kids,” he says.
And while Joe personally loves wearing his cape, he tries to teach his students that you don’t need one to be a hero.
“A hero is somebody who makes a difference for others. A hero is somebody who demonstrates a level of respect and responsibility,” he says. “It doesn’t matter how young or old or where you are, every small act can make the difference.”