Nashwaaksis students team up with NB entrepreneur for unique IWK donation

New Brunswick award winning entrepreneur Dawn Pottier has teamed up with Grade 8 students at Nashwaaksis Middle School for a creative donation for the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

The group has been making “wish blankets” to be handed out at the hospital.

“I thought to myself one day, ‘one day when [the business is] big enough, and if this works, I am going to give back’” said Pottier who owns Lulujo Baby in Fredericton.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I thought to myself one day, 'one day when [the business is] big enough, and if this works, I am going to give back'" said Pottier who owns Lulujo Baby in Fredericton.

In 2010, while on maternity leave, the mother of two started selling infant carriers and in just a few short years her company has expanded into a $2 million international company.

Now, she says the time has come to give back to her community.

“We have about 30 different students — 30 girls — and we asked them ‘what would you create, what would your best wishes be for the next generation?’” Pottier said.

Their creative artwork is spread across the baby blankets with messages that are meant to inspire.

Their finished products were revealed at the school on Wednesday.

“It was a great experience because we get to work with our friends to do artwork for children, and also we learned about making our own business,” said student Marlee Rae Brewer.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was a great experience because we get to work with our friends to do artwork for children, and also we learned about making our own business," said student Marlee Rae Brewer.

This fall 350 blankets will be donated directly to the IWK and the proceeds from any blankets sold will be donated to the hospital’s foundation.

“The proceeds from these blankets will go to our urgent priority fund which funds advanced research and up-to-date equipment,” said Gillian Gresh with the IWK Foundation.

“Families receiving these blankets are also going to get that extra special wish sent to them from these Grade 8 students.”

Pottier says she hopes the blankets bring comfort to families and the project inspires young women at the school to follow their dreams.