Congratulations, Zander!

Zander Li, a student volunteer at Sunbeam (featured in our 2023 newsletter, on page 4 in our Spring 2023 Newsletter available here) is the recipient of the 2024 France-Anne Sweeny “Making a Difference” Awards. Zander generously named Sunbeam to receive the donation that comes with this award.

The France-Anne Sweeny “Making a Difference” Student Award was created by France-Anne’s parents in honour of her, after her sudden passing in 2009. As a victim of bullying, France-Anne shared her compelling story through her work as a member of the Cameron Heights Collegiate WAYVE (Working Against Youth Violence Everywhere) Club, speaking at suicide prevention workshops, and through her everyday interactions with others. This award acknowledges and rewards young local students for their passion and sense of mission to make a difference in the community, just like France-Anne.

As one of Sunbeam’s frequent volunteers and avid music enthusiasts, Zander finds himself sharing his musical talent with the people we support at Sunbeam. Zander shares “I connect with people through a simple piano.” When asked about his inspiration he says “I want to help those in need. I believe that music can inspire a connection between people in ways words cannot.”

Zander is also enthusiastic about science. With big dreams of studying science both in his undergraduate and doctorate degree, he plans to work in scientific research one day. His dedication and compassion as a volunteer at Sunbeam are a testament to his commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Thank you, Zander, for making a difference in the lives of those around you! We sincerely appreciate your contributions as a volunteer and for your generosity in choosing Sunbeam to receive this donation.