Back in November, one of our youth bloggers wrote about Ashley Kirilow, the 23-year-old founder of Change for a Cure. She claimed to have cancer and was soliciting money for her charity. It has recently come to our attention that Kirilow allegedly lied about having cancer and that her charity was a hoax. For more information, check out The Star‘s story on Kirilow.
Initially, we found her story very inspiring. We have debated removing the post but have decided to leave it up as an example of what not to do, and promote that youth can accomplish great things – but only if they have good intentions. Youth Are Awesome does not support this behaviour, nor do we condone it.
We support youth that are doing good things with good intentions.
Faking a cause hurts people. There are plenty of organizations in Calgary that are doing wonderful things for good causes. Check out:
Perhaps rather than linking to an article that treats this like a soap opera – and details way more than anyone needs to know – we could instead remind people that there are ways to prevent this. You can always check with the CRA to see if a charity is registered (http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/lstngs/menu-eng.html) – and if a name search doesn't turn anything up, you can ask the charity for a registration number, which you can then cross-check on the CRA listings.
Hi Guys,
I agree. I am currently the Director of Fund Development for the Spread the Love Organization. Make sure you do your research when donating.
Cheers,
Jermyn
I not like that Ashley girl. She ain't no good. Why she do dat? Why she be so dumb?
Maybe a matchmaker can arrange Ashley a blind date with D'Arcy Wright, a Hamilton man in his late forties who staged his own kidnapping/disappearance in the Dominican Republic to escape from financial responsibilities. He was later learned to have spent his "hostage days" staying in a hotel ordering in food, cigarettes, alcohol and, on one occasion, a prostitute. Those two could spend their time together trying to bilk each other out of the $10 in the other's pocket by persuading their counterpart to feel sympathy. "And you thought that we were faking …that we were all just money-making," (the Sex Pistols, 1977)
Nice post