DSSA Supplies Santa with Toys for Underprivileged

Business School Group Gets Festive for Charity

NewsAndrew Brennan — Published November 21, 2013

Over 450 boxes carrying thousands of toys, clothing and other donations were collected by the John Molson School of Business’ Decision Sciences Student Association by day’s end.

The DSSA started the project last year in conjunction with Operation Christmas Child, a donation program by the Evangelist organization Samaritan’s Purse that distributes shoeboxes full of supplies to children in need around the world, but DSSA President Kourtney Di Perno says this year the association set their sights closer to home.

“What we noticed is that if a community is in need closest to you, you should start there first,” she said.

“These people are amazing; all you need to do is motivate them a little bit and let them go, and they’ll make things happen.” —JMSB professor Brent Pierce

Members of the Montreal Alouettes were also on-hand soliciting donations from students for part of the day, Di Perno added.

The donations received this year will be distributed to 70 Montreal families and 190 children in need, said JMSB professor Brent Pierce.

Pierce is also coordinating corporate donations in addition to those of the DSSA, all under the umbrella “Brent Pierce’s Christmas for a cause,” he continued.

“Youth in general gets a bum wrap I think in a lot of cases, because they get criticism heaped on them for maybe not being as energetic and industrious as previous generations were,” he said.

But Pierce added he does not think that applies to the DSSA.

“These people are amazing; all you need to do is motivate them a little bit and let them go, and they’ll make things happen,” he said.