LOUKOUMI FOUNDATION VISITS GANDER NEWFOUNDLAND CANADA; UNVEILS "NEVER FORGET LETTER" MAILBOX FOR 9/11 FAMILIES
It was an inspiring and emotional day in the Town of Gander Newfoundland Canada last Friday as The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation unveiled its Never Forget Letter Mailbox for families who lost love ones on 9/11. The mailbox was placed adjacent to an original piece of steel from the World Trade Center (Pictured here) donated to the town of Gander. We now invite residents and tourists from around the world to place their Never Forget Letters into this mailbox, which is beautifully decorated with artwork by the students of Gander Elementary School. This mailbox will stand as a symbol that we must never forget those that we lost on 9/11 and also as a symbol that we must always remember the incredible kindness shown by the Town of Gander to the 7000 airline passengers whose planes were diverted to Gander that day, which became the story of the award-winning musical Come From Away.
GOOD DEED OF THE MONTH ZOOM
On May 5, 2023, the Loukoumi Good Deed of the Month Zoom was also hosted live from Gander Elementary School in Newfoundland Canada. See Recording to the left. On the Zoom we introduced this month's good deed project, assisting animal shelters. We also heard from students worldwide including from the ACS Athens School, The San Carpoforo School in Lake Como Italy and Our Lady of Grace School in the Bronx, NY, as they shared good deed projects they are working on in their cities. Diane Davis and Mihalia Hillier from Gander also addressed the students.
GANDER LOUKOUMI GOOD DEED CELEBRATION
On this special trip, Gander Elementary School also held its inaugural Loukoumi Foundation Good Deed celebration as students showcased their good deed projects for charities they are passionate about. Over $3,000 was raised by the kids through their bake sales, bracelet making, kindness rocks, wood carvings, keychains and more. Hundreds of items were also collected for homeless, animal shelters, school supplies and more.
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Special thanks to Gander Mayor Percy Farwell, Deputy Mayor Bettina Ford, The Town Council, Kayla White, Gander Elementary School Principal Duane Smith, Assistant Principal Naomi Young, Diane Davis, Mihalia Hillier, Andy Introzzi and everyone at Enhance a Colour for designing the mailbox, our foundation advisory board members Judy Abrams (one of the producers of Come from Away and thanks to everyone from the show), Loukoumi Foundation sponsors Eileen and Gary Franklin/George's Angels, and Kristen Versaci, all the faculty and students at Gander Elementary, whose artwork adorns the mailbox, and last but not least a huge thank you to teacher Christopher Hillyard for helping make this all happen!
Gander Elementary students point to their artwork on the mailbox (above and below)
The Loukoumi Foundation presented a Make A Difference Award to the school (above) and the Town of Gander
A student showcases their charity at the Loukoumi Good Deed Celebration (above) and students participate in Zoom below
The 9th Annual Loukoumi Dance Party
& Make A Difference Awards

INSPIRATION AWARD
KAREN GUGGENHEIM
Social Entrepreneur, Author and Founder/CEO of WOHASU®, producer of the World Happiness Summit®
2023 Make A Difference Awards
RYAN O’CONNOR

ACS ATHENS (AMERICAN CHARTER SCHOOLS)
CHAPEL SCHOOL STUDENTS
CHLOE CAMPBELL, KIEVANA GRAHAM & GABE SIERRA

ANNE HUTCHINSON SCHOOL ADOPT A NURSING HOME STUDENTS

DIVINE WISDOM CATHOLIC ACADEMY

FORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY KIWANIS

THE TOWN OF GANDER, NEWFOUNDLAND CANADA

LOUKOUMI KIDS CLUB CHAPTER, AGUADA, PUERTO RICO

OUR LADY OF GRACE SCHOOL FOOD PANTRY VOLUNTEERS

OUR LADY OF VICTORY SCHOOL, MT. VERNON, NY

SAN CARPOFORO SCHOOL, LAKE COMO ITALY

SS. JOACHIM AND ANNE SCHOOL

VARIETY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF QUEENS
2023 LOUKOUMI DREAM DAY
Watch our Dream Day Anniversary Video (left) and enter the 2023 Loukoumi Dream Day Contest. Send us your cell phone video 30 seconds or less recorded horizontally to loukoumi@aol.com by May 15, telling us what you want to be when you grow up and why. Then tell us how you will use your dream career to help others!