9-year-old Reece awarded Citizen of the Month

BY Ariana Shah

Reece Walsh, a nine-year-old girl from Canyon Lake who organized and implemented a $3,050 holiday fundraiser from scratch last month, was honored Wednesday by the Canyon Lake City Council as the city’s first Citizen of the Month.

“We need more citizens like you in this world and definitely in this city,” City of Canyon Lake Mayor Kasey Castillo said as she presented the award to Reece. This was the first time the city had given a Citizen of the Month award and plans on making it a monthly presentation.

Reece Walsh, 9, speaks at the Canyon Lake City Council meeting Wednesday after being presented the Citizen of the Month from Mayor Kasey Castillo. Reece led a Christmas fundraiser effort that resulted in $3,050 being contributed to Cops for Kids.

Reece and her classmates from Tuscany Hills Elementary raised the money for Cops for Kids, a charity that provided underprivileged children with Christmas gifts.

“I want to thank the community of Canyon Lake and my friends and classmates that helped me earn the money for Cops for Kids,” Reece said at the council meeting after receiving the award. “I wanted to help the kids without Christmas gifts because I know they felt lonely and sad.”

Reece created the campaign, “Fill a Stocking, Fill a Heart.” She involved her school, where she solicited friends and administrators for help. They put up posters throughout the community and held multiple collection events at the Canyon Lake Country Club where tables were set up and donations requested.

“Reece hopes to make this an annual event,” Rhonda Walsh, Reece’s grandmother, said. “She is also thinking of some new way to help children throughout the year.”