Learning for Hope

www.learningforhope.com learningforhope@live.ca
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Andrew McLaughlin and I am a teacher at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School.
Over the course of my time at the school, I have had the rivilege of teaching and learning from
several e!traordinary students. "owever, Michael #lac$man has made a uni%ue imression on
me and my own life.
I never had the rivilege of teaching Michael. "owever, I have had the oortunity to get to
$now Michael outside of the classroom. &ight years ago, students at St. Mary Catholic
Secondary School started a non'rofit organi(ation called Learning for Hope. The mandate of
the organi(ation is to give the students the oortunity to fundraise for and oerate a non'rofit.
The roceeds of the ro)ect rovide *etter educational oortunities for students in +ominican
,eu*lic, Chile, -eru and &l Salvador. Over the course of the last . years I have had the
rivilege of getting to $now Michael *ecause he has colla*orated with me and other mem*ers of
our school community to host fundraising events and also write and erform theme music for
the ro)ect. As a result of his articiation in various fundraising initiatives, we have *een a*le
to fund'raise enough money to finance the oeration of the C&/T,O A/A0, an occuational
center for victims of human trafficking. Michael1s efforts have contri*uted to camaigns that
now ay for classes in aesthetics, comuters, $arate and music. 2ery few young artists can say
that they have *een directly involved in heling to rovide a *etter life and more oortunities
for other students.
Most young artists would not have gotten involved the way that Michael did. Instead of
worrying a*out image, he decided to get involved in a ro)ect *ecause he wanted his music and
life to have a deeer meaning. Instead of ursuing his own goals in a selfish way, he chose to *e
a colla*orator and innovator, and I can I honestly say that I am roud to wor$ with such a
talented artist.
I have no dou*t that Michael will do many great things as a musician, a erson and a leader. If
you have any %uestions or concerns lease feel free to contact me. My home hone num*er is
34567 896'54:9.

0ours truly,

Andrew McLaughlin