Community Activist Hannah Paracholski
“I feel like we were put on this planet to help one another,” says Hannah Paracholski a 14-year-old Vernon Secondary School student. “I think we should go out of our way to do so whether the person is next door or far away.” When Hannah sets her mind to something, it gets done with a big heart and impressive results.
Whether it’s placing in an Irish dancing competition, winning a downhill slalom ski race or reaching out to help others across the globe, Hannah stays committed, especially when it benefits others.
She showed her willingness to jump in with both feet during her crusade to help Japanese tsunami victims.
After seeing the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami on the news, Hannah put together a team and organized a fundraising run and fun day that raised over $7,000.
“We were so amazed at the support we received for those in Japan. They are people just like us that needed our help,” she says.
Closer to home Hannah volunteered more time in an effort to gather votes in a sadly unsuccessful bid to advance in a competition that could have seen $150,000 awarded to the rebuilding of Camp Hurlburt, an outdoor Vernon youth camp.
Hannah believes if you reach out to others they might do the same for someone else down the road, and that’s what’s really important. ?~Stacy Pavlov
it gave me great pleasure to read this article about Hannah’s social activism. It is a reminder that it is not age or status that make us leaders. It is having a passionate commitment to one’s community and, indeed, to the world at large. Great things can be accomplished when we choose to act on our responses to our often troubled world. And in doing so, we change our world, our community and ourselves. I’m sure your family is proud of you. I know your grandmother will be!
Norma D – an ADPI friend.
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. ~Dr. Seuss
Hello Hannah,
What a wonderful article; indeed …we need more women and men doing/acting like you do.
No words/promisses………..but ACTION!!!!!
Go on and make yourself proud and make us proud to be befriended with you, even if we live nearly
on the other side of the word (Holland)
See you in February.
lots of love from us all.
The Jackson-4
Congratulations, Hannah.
We are so pleased about this article in Okanagan Life. Our frienship goes back 8 1/2 years when we moved into our house and you greeted us with a warm welcome drawing left on our door step. You are the sunshine of our neighbourhood and by now you are letting your light shine all over the world. How we need young women like you. Thank you for being “Hannah”.