Hollywood star Kim Coates, who is from Saskatoon, took part in a celebration at Vincent Massey School Monday.

The Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation was marking a record-breaking donation of $139,898 thanks to the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign. They also celebrated a $225,000 donation over-three-years from Canpotex for the Cheer Crate campaign. Cheer Crates were created to fill the void for families during COVID-19 by providing families with food, games and learning materials for families in need. And since the return to class, they have discovered there is still need in the community.

The funds from the Smile Cookie campaign will support Early Learning Equal Start. The program provides literacy supports focusing on students in Saskatoon Public Schools in order to achieve what is considered the critical milestone of reading Grade 3 in Grade 3.

Saskatoon Public Schools has previously stated that 30 per cent of students will not achieve Grade 3 level literacy by Grade 3, and a child who cannot read by Grade 3 is four times less likely to graduate from high school.  They also say every dollar invested in early years literacy initiatives, means the economy gains seven dollars.

Kim Coates was in attendance for cheque presentations from Tim Horton’s and Canpotex.