TJ’s Gift Foundation has its roots in the TJ Wiebe Educational Awareness Fund in the Louis Riel School Division, and was formed when TJ Wiebe was murdered at 20 years of age.
TJ had had some involvement in the drug world before he died, and so his family, with the knowledge of what drugs do to families, decided that they had to do something to create a greater awareness of the dangers of drugs in youth. The money that was collected at TJ’s funeral was dedicated to this purpose and the fund was formed.
The program is designed to be a peer education program where students and teachers can access money from the fund to support learning about drugs. In order to access funds, students and teachers must design a program to learn about the dangers of drugs, they must sign an oath saying that they are free of drugs and intend to remain so and they must teach what they have learned to other students.
Since its inception, the fund had grown to approximately $8000. However, it was clear that that amount was not sustainable. The Wiebe family decided that they needed to work to ensure that it would be sustainable. With this in mind, the first gala, “TJ’s Gift”, was planned and held on May 16, 2007. The dinner and dance gala involved a sumptuous dinner, magic, music and dancing, along with a live auction, diamond ring raffle and silent auctions. $54,000 was raised at this event. The principle amount is being held as an annuity and only 5% may be used in any one year.
