|
Inner-city kids meet Big City Life |
|
|
|
|
Thursday, 15 April 2010 |
|
BY KAYLA CABRAL
Staff Writer
Amanda Edridge is a big-city girl with big-city dreams.
Edridge, 20, is the mastermind of a group preparing an event intended to shine a spotlight on her hometown of Hamilton while helping the city's underprivileged kids break the cycle of poverty.
When people think of Hamilton, they normally don't picture any beauty or
have many positive things to say about the city but Edridge has a
different view.
"Hamilton is known as ‘grungy' and that's not
the case at all."
Edridge says Hamilton is known for its dirty
reputation but "there is much more than dirt, if people don't stereotype
and acknowledge the beauty the city has to offer."
 Amanda Edridge helps provide a better quality of life for Hamilton children, one fashion show at a time. Photo by Kayla Cabral
"I've always wanted to do something for kids,"
says Edridge, "So when I took the idea to City Kidz, they loved it. In
return I found some way to give the love back."
Andrea Drysdale,
events co-ordinator for City Kidz, says Big City Life is going to be "a
huge benefit to City Kidz, not only financially, but also in exposure."
City
Kidz's mission statement is "to inspire, to instill, to impact."
Edridge volunteers for City Kidz as an assistant to Drysdale. She
helps find sponsors for local events.
"We can't end poverty, but we
can help it. If we can build children with big dreams and ambition, we
can build a better community for the future," says Edridge.
Edridge says Big City Life was inspired by the city and "everything it
has to offer." She adds that the idea was unrealistic until she got a
team together.
"My team is great. They always push me back up
when I get stressed."
Edridge's team consists of Alycia Gallagher,
Joey Czajkowski and Jillian Walsh.
Gallagher says her role in Big
City Life is production co-ordinator. Her job right now is booking
models until a hall is booked for the event.
"Showcasing the
talent, culture and individuality Hamilton has to offer is such an
amazing idea."
Gallagher says the event inspires her because
she's "a true blue Hamiltonian, and I believe in this city."
Czajkowski is a graduate of advertising and is taking marketing at
McMaster University in Hamilton. He says his role is "more in the
background." He finalizes forms and thinks of ways to promote the event.
"I
try to offer the best advice to other members of our group who are
going out and getting sponsors."
He says finding sponsors is the
hardest part and though it's early he has already started to promote the
event.
When he first heard the idea, Czajkowski thought Edridge
was "just dreaming." He says he hated Hamilton but as time went on he
"discovered some amazing places."
"It's really the people within
this community and their love for this city that really shine through."
Jillian
Walsh says she is Edridge's "right-hand man and biggest cheerleader."
"I'm spreading the word for Big City Life. Hamilton is a beautiful
city and so many people overlook the accomplishments it has to offer."
Walsh says "the need to be creative" brought her and Edridge together.
Once Edridge told Walsh about the fundraiser she says she had to help.
"When you see someone with big aspirations, why doubt them? You should
help them as much as you can to make their dreams come true."
Walsh says they both see the beauty of Hamilton and "Amanda's passion
and inspiration always puts the doubt out of my mind."
"Love and
happiness is contagious and that's what Amanda and Big City Life plan to
make aware to our fellow Hamiltonians."
Edridge says running
this event is "extremely stressful." She says because this is her first
event it's hard learning everything at once but "it's well worth it,"
and she loves every thought and idea put into this event.
"Not a
lot of people take me seriously. People feel because I'm young I can't
do this."
She says her response is always, "If you want something
enough, you'll do it."
"Young ambition is the best. We're big
dreamers."
|
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 April 2010 )
|
