Media & Event Advisory

March 31, 2017

What: In advance of National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Week – April 16-22, 2017 – and during the month of April, the David Foster Foundation is partnering with Country Grocer to launch a partnership, promotion, and in-store raffle in each of their seven Vancouver Island stores.

Shoppers will have the opportunity to enter to win the “Gift of Flight” with WestJet when purchasing a $5 raffle ticket at the till with funds being donated to the Foundation. Assorted products on shelves will be marked throughout the month, and a portion of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the David Foster Foundation. Customers may also purchase a $2 token at the till with all proceeds going to the Foundation.

The Foundation has helped to support the non-medical expenses of more than 1,000 families with children undergoing life-saving pediatric organ transplants.

Why: The David Foster Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2017, and as a Vancouver Island-headquartered Canadian charitable organization, is committed to engagement with their community.

Currently, 90 per cent of Canadians feel that organ donation is beneficial, but less than 20 per cent are registered as donors.

When: Friday, March 31 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• 11 to 11:45 a.m. – media interviews
• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – on-site BBQ

Where: Country Grocer, Esquimalt, 1153 Esquimalt Road.

Photo & Video Opportunities:

• BBQ kick-off event with Country Grocer staff
• David Foster Foundation recipient families from southern Vancouver Island
• David Foster Foundation staff representatives

Available for Interviews:

• Lara Knudsen, Director of Family Relations, David Foster Foundation
• Alicia Moyes, Director of Community Relations, David Foster Foundation
• Peter Cavin, Director Country Grocer

About the David Foster Foundation

David Foster is a proud Canadian, Recipient of the Order of Canada, Officer of the Order of Canada, 50-time nominee and 16-time Grammy Award winner (including three for Producer of the Year), three-time Oscar nominee, Golden Globe winner, seven-time Juno Award winner, Emmy award winner and has the distinguished honour to have his star on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk of Fame. He is the man behind the biggest hits, with more than half a billion records sold. In 2015, the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria recognized Foster as their Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year.

Foster launched the David Foster Foundation in his hometown of Victoria in 1986. Across Canada, the David Foster Foundation financially supports families for all non-medical expenses while their children are undergoing lifesaving organ transplants. Thanks to its annual fundraising efforts and the generous support of national partners like TELUS, WestJet, AMJ Campbell, Aird & Berlis LLP, Schnitzer, and Hope Air families receive support for expenses incurred when travelling away from their homes to be with their child during transplant.

In 2014, the Slaight Family Foundation, Newton Glassman Foundation in partnership with Catalyst Capital Group Inc., Jim & Sandi Treliving, and Tan Sri Dr. Francis Yeoh joined TELUS as the Foundation’s $1M Life Legacy members.

The Foundation also promotes organ donor awareness and registration in both Canada and the United States. For more information, visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com.