National Reading Campaign Kicks Off

The CanWest Global Foundation announced last month that AMJ Campbell Van Lines has been named as a national sponsor of the 2003 Raise-a-Reader campaign. Raise-a-Reader is the key philanthropic program of The CanWest Global Foundation that increases awareness, raises money and other resources in support of children's literacy programs throughout Canada. In partnership with Raise-a-Reader, AMJ Campbell will initiate and execute a year-round national book drive. Raise-a-Reader Day will be held in 13 cities and kicks off on September 25th. Local celebrities and volunteers will be on street corners throughout these cities "hawking" a special Raise-a-Reader edition of their newspaper in exchange for donations.


Nissan Reaches $1 Million Fundraising Goal

Nissan Canada Inc. says its recent donation of $50,000 to the North Thompson Relief Fund has helped it top the $1 million plateau set by the fund's founder, Kamloops Nissan dealer George Evans. The fund will provide relief to the victims of a widespread forest fire that drove thousands of BC residents from their homes. The fund is designed to help people with goods and services rather than providing cash handouts. Victims are invited to apply to the fund for what they need and fund administrators will purchase the product or service for them. He also explained that there are no administration fees attached to his fund. Every dollar collected goes directly to the victims. The fund is averaging 60 to 100 donations a day.


Gas Firm Donates Beef

Six Saskatchewan non-profit groups are the recipients of $27,000 worth of surplus Canadian beef, as part of a donation from provincial natural gas companies. TransGas - the pipeline company of SaskEnergy - and nine provincial gas producers are donating the meat to community organizations in five different towns. The beef will be distributed to these organizations over the next few months. The Salvation Army Food Bank in Swift Current and the Hunger in Moose Jaw program will each receive about 10,000 pounds of beef through the donation, which represents about one year's supply for their food programs. The Moose Jaw agency said the donation would help it reach at least 200 families.


Canadian Athletes Receive More Funding

MasterCard Canada has made a $500,000 donation to the See You In Athens Fund, a not-for profit fund established to support the training and development of Canada's amateur athletes. As many as 70% of Canada's amateur athletes live below the poverty line. The fund was designed to ease the financial burdens placed on athletes for expenses like travel, equipment, coaching and nutrition. Since 1997, the Fund has helped Canada's amateur athletes prepare for international summer and winter games. Money goes directly to Canadian athletes to support their training, coaching, nutrition and living expenses in preparation for international competition. The MasterCard contribution will help the organization reach its ultimate fundraising target of $5 million.

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