Kids grow-up fast. For parents of kids with physical disabilities, however, a child’s growth-spurt can mean replacing costly equipment needed for their mobility and independence. Carter Keith is nearly 6-years-old, and has already outgrown three wheelchairs. Easter Seals Ontario was there to help by providing financial assistance for the essential, but costly, mobility equipment that Carter needed but that the family was finding difficult to afford.

On Sunday, March 14th, from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., the annual Easter Seals Telethon appeals for public support to help kids with physical disabilities and their families. Airing on CBC and affiliate broadcasters the 27th annual Easter Seals Telethon recognizes generous supporters, and asks viewers to help make a difference in the lives of Easter Seals kids.

“Canon Canada has been committed to supporting Easter Seals kids for many years and we are delighted to be involved. This is the perfect opportunity for Canon to give back to our community, while raising much needed funds for Easter Seals children and their families,” says Colleen Ryan, Director of Corporate Communication and General & Environmental Affairs of Canon Canada.

Easter Seals Ontario assists families of kids with physical disabilities with the purchase of costly mobility equipment and communication devices. By providing financial assistance, Easter Seals performs an essential service to families who might not otherwise have the resources to obtain this equipment. Easter Seals also owns and operates two fully accessible camp properties and is recognized as an industry leader in providing specialized recreation programs for kids with physical disabilities at Easter Seals camps.

“All year-round, but especially during the annual Easter Seals Telethon, we wish to thank supporters and tell people about the importance of their donations in helping children with physical disabilities live safely in their own homes with dignity, and a greater level of independence,” says Carol Lloyd, President and CEO, Easter Seals Ontario.

The 2010 Easter Seals Telethon will be a touching and inspirational show featuring Easter Seals kids and special live performances by Gemini nominated singer/songwriter Justin Hines, beloved children’s storyteller and author Robert Munsch and the beautiful melodies of the music duo, Dala.

The success in generating public awareness and support for the Easter Seals Telethon has hinged on the continuing commitment of the celebrity hosts including: Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson and Jessica Holmes from the long-running CBC comedy series, Royal Canadian Air Farce; as well as, Erin Davis, Barb DiGiulio, Tom Harrington and Ann Rohmer.

The annual Easter Seals Telethon is a major part of Easter Seals’ fundraising campaign March is Easter Seals Month. During March is Easter Seals Month, there are many ways to help kids with physical disabilities. Participating retailers across Ontario will be offering Paper Eggs in support of Easter Seals kids for $2 from March 12th to April 4th. For more information or to donate online visit www.easterseals.org.

TORONTO, ON (March 8, 2010) - Easter Seals^TM launches its milestone 10th annual Paper Egg Campaign, running March 8th to April 4th. Shoppers at participating retailers are encouraged to purchase a colourful paper egg to be posted on store walls in support of Easter Seals programs and services.

Despite the struggling economy Canadians dug deep in their pockets and contributed more than $838,000 in 2009, the highest total raised to date during the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign.

“This year we have more retail sponsors than ever before,” says Cheryl McNamara, Development and Communications Manager for Easter Seals Canada. “Between our enthusiastic retail partners and their customers, it is highly likely that 2010 will be another milestone year for the Paper Egg campaign.”

Some of the new retail sponsors include Money Mart, which joins the campaign as National Sponsor after raising $69,000 in Ontario in 2009, and London Drugs, which recently announced its participation in all stores where it operates in Western Canada.

Easter Seals is pleased to welcome back Top National Sponsor, The Bargain! Shop (TB!S), whose stores, customers and partners raised more than $221,000 in 2009, once again almost doubling sales from the previous year. In total, TB!S has raised over $445,000 nationally for the campaign since 2007.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this vital campaign to help the Easter Seals kids,” says Michael Roellinghoff, President and CEO, The Bargain! Shop. “It’s the fourth consecutive year we’ve been a part of this fabulous event and this year, with the enthusiastic support of our associates, customers and partners we expect another record result!”

The Bargain! Shop hosts launches on March 8th in Edmonton, Regina, Port Credit, Kitchener, Perth, and Petrolia. The Woodstock, New Brunswick TB!S store, the 2009 top Paper Egg fundraiser ($6,275), will host festivities on March 10th; and, Winnipeg Blue Bomber Obby Khan will visit the TB!S, 1674 Main Street store in Winnipeg on March 27 to sign autographs and serve up a free barbecue. For details, click here.

Easter Seals is pleased to announce that Lawtons Drugs, Price Chopper Atlantic and Sobeys Ontario will once again join the campaign. All three sponsors also broke campaign records in 2009 and have vowed to make 2010 another record-breaking year. For a full list of participating retailers, visit www.paperegg.ca.

Easter Seals has assisted Canadians with disabilities for more than 85 years, providing them with the tools they need to strive for independence, acceptance and achievement. Every year, more than 100,000 Canadians and their families access Easter Seals programs and services, the most recognized being Easter Seals camps. For more information, visit www.easterseals.ca.

For More Information contact:
Cheryl McNamara, Development & Communications Manager, Easter Seals Canada
Phone: (416) 932 8382 ext 245 Email: CMcNamara@easterseals.ca

Laura Secord Gives Back!

From February 22 to March 5, 2010 a portion of the proceeds of all Laura Secord Easter Cream Eggs will go towards Easter Seals. All funds raised in English Canada will support active living programs and Easter Seals camp experiences for children with disabilities.

Visit your local Laura Secord store and show your support for Easter Seals kids!

Currently with over 130 company-owned stores across the country, Laura Secord is Canada’s largest and best known chocolatier, selling premium chocolates, ice cream and other types of candies. With more than 400 products, Laura Secord still follows the time-honoured recipes and dedication to quality and excellent customer service as when the company first started. Every product carries an unconditional guarantee for quality. Laura Secord is dedicated to helping the community. They make many product donations every year to registered charities helping children and youth.

Visit: www.laurasecord.ca

Fifty-nine years ago, one magical night turned into a time-honoured tradition that’s now known as the Rogers Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner & Auction in support of Easter Seals Ontario. And, last night’s celebrity dinner and auction proved that the magic is not gone. The event raised $325,000.00 for Ontario’s children and youth with physical disabilities.

On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, close to 1,000 guests attended Canada’s longest running sports celebrities’ dinner that was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Emcee for the evening was one of Canada’s most recognized entertainment celebrities, Mike Bullard. Some of the sports celebrity guests to grace this year’s head table included: Roberto Alomar, Theo Fleury, Catriona Le May Doan, Phil Kessel and Ron Wilson.

“We are grateful for the support of Rogers, the celebrities and everyone who takes part in this incredible evening,” says Hockey Night in Canada’s Scott Morrison, Chair of the event committee and Easter Seals’ board member.  “It’s about the kids–building brighter futures for children with physical disabilities.”

The Rogers Conn Smythe Sports Celebrities Dinner and Auction is the launch of a new year for Easter Seals’ Provincial Ambassadors, who have the job of representing Ontario’s children and youth with physical disabilities. This year’s Provincial Ambassadors, Lara Wong and Lucas Zane, were publicly introduced and welcomed for the very first time last night.

Families rely on Easter Seals to help purchase expensive equipment needed for mobility and communication, send kids to camp and other recreational programs, and provide access to information and resources. Easter Seals owns and operates two fully accessible Easter Seals camps and is recognized as an industry leader in providing specialized recreation programs for kids with physical disabilities. For more information about Easter Seals or to donate visit www.easterseals.org.

Infrastructure Canada and the Government of Ontario award grant of $2.6 million for Camp Woodeden

December 21, 2009 - Easter Seals Ontario is pleased to announce that we have been successful in our application to Infrastructure Canada for a capital grant to build a Multi-Sport Centre at Easter Seals Camp Woodeden in London, ON.

At a ceremony in London, the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced that Easter Seals Ontario has been awarded a total $2.6 million, to be paid equally by Infrastructure Canada and the Government of Ontario, for the completion of this project. An additional $1.3 million, required to complete the project, will be funded by Easter Seals Ontario.

Project details:

A new, fully accessible, 12,000 sq. ft. facility to include a full size gym, change rooms/washrooms/shower area, lobby and multi-purpose rooms, accessible indoor climbing wall, amphitheatre and sports equipment storage.

The facility will be used by children and youth with physical disabilities who attend Easter Seals camp, as well as by individuals of all ages and levels of ability from the general public, including persons with disabilities, school groups, community groups, sports leagues and corporations.

The Centre will provide for indoor programs that augment the currently available world-class outdoor activities, including the fully accessible High Ropes course, sledge hockey rink and sports surface for racket sports, basketball and adapted sports.

We expect the project to be completed by March 2011. More details will be provided as we move forward with the project in the New Year.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that the Government of Canada today tabled in the House of Commons the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Tabling a treaty, such as the Convention, allows Parliament to review and discuss it before the government ratifies it.

“The government’s tabling of the Convention on the day the United Nations officially designates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities demonstrates Canada’s strong commitment to removing obstacles and creating opportunities for persons with disabilities,” said Minister MacKay. “The Convention is important internationally because it is the first international human rights treaty that explicitly reaffirms existing human rights guarantees for persons with disabilities.”

The UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on December 13, 2006. Canada was among the first countries to sign it when it was opened for signature on March 30, 2007.

The Government of Canada sought the views of the provinces, territories and the Canadian public, in particular the community of persons with disabilities. Their views and recommendations made over the course of the consultations will continue to play an important role in informing any future measures that may be taken post-ratification of the Convention at the federal level.

“The Convention will serve to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity,” said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. “Once ratified, it will complement domestic laws, as well as provide an opportunity for Canada to share its best practices in areas such as equality, reasonable accommodation and accessibility.”

“The Government of Canada continues to invest in programs and services to meet the needs of Canadians with disabilities and provide them with the same access to opportunities that all Canadians enjoy,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Ratification of the Convention will give us the opportunity both to recognize the many contributions that people with disabilities make to society, and to acknowledge the progress we continue to make as a society towards the full inclusion of people with disabilities.”

(Chicago. Dec. 3) Recognizing that people with disabilities have an important role to play in their communities, and that empowering people with disabilities to contribute plays an essential role in global development, Easter Seals commends the United Nations for its work on this International Day of Persons with Disabilities. To successfully achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we, as global citizens, must address development challenges from a comprehensive perspective — one that respects the needs and rights of all populations, including the 10 percent of world citizens who live with a disability. We applaud the efforts of the United Nations on this day, and we express our solidarity and support of the advances made on behalf of persons with disabilities.

Since 1919, Easter Seals has sought to make the vision of our founder Edgar “Daddy” Allen a reality. Allen began an international movement, and wrote in 1922 that “We have but one life to live. We get nothing out of that life except by putting something into it. To relieve suffering, to help the unfortunate, to do kind acts and deeds is, after all, the one sure way to secure happiness or to achieve real success. Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take … but by what we give.”

Today, Easter Seals in the United States and Puerto Rico, with our affiliate Ability First Australia and our global partner Easter Seals Canada, are working together to meet the needs of millions of children and adults with disabilities and their families. Easter Seals President and Chief Executive Officer James E. Williams, Jr., states that “Today, our vision is to grow our services and our expertise to serve millions more, and to lend a hand wherever we are able.”

About Easter Seals Canada

Easter Seals Canada is a federation of 10 provincial Easter Seals organizations who have served Canadians with disabilities for more than eighty years. Working together this network is the leading provider of services to children and families living with disabilities, assisting more than 100,000 Canadians annually. Programs and services provided by Easter Seals organizations across Canada include, specialized summer camps and active living programs, respite facilities, and the provision of mobility, access equipment and family support services. For more information visit: www.easterseals.ca

“Our goal for the future is to enable full recognition of diverse abilities within more accessible Canadian communities” said Max Beck, CEO of Easter Seals Canada.

About Easter Seals in the U.S.

Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. For nearly 90 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them.

Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play in their communities. To learn more, visit www.easterseals.com

About Ability First Australia

Ability First Australia was formed in 2002 when the following state-based organisations agreed to join forces to better meet the needs of children and families living with disability.

The founding organizations are Cootharinga North Queensland; MontroseAccess, Queensland; Northcott Disability Services, New South Wales; Novita Children’s Services, South Australia; Rocky Bay Inc, Western Australia; and St. Giles Society, Tasmania. Member organisations offer an impressive profile of services, supporting 65,000 Australians with a disability and their families nationwide.

A combined workforce of 2,000 employees and annual combined operating costs in excess of $100 million support the complex needs of the individuals who receive services from Ability First Australia members. In addition, more than 3,000 Australians volunteer their time and expertise each year to assist member organisations to achieve their goals. Visit www.abilityfirstaustralia.com.au to learn more.

Ability First Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Glenn Gardner says “Today more than ever we value working in partnership with others whose aim is to see that persons with disabilities are provided with opportunities which enable them to make, wherever possible, their own life choices “

Norm Miller, COO of Dollar Financial Corp. and Larry Taylor, President of National Money Mart, present the 24 Hour Relay cheque to Easter Seals Canada’s Max Beck, CEO and Lisa Van Arem, VP National Development. The cheque presentation was made at the Money Mart Gala Dinner in Mississauga, Ontario on November 16.

Despite the recession, Money Mart staff and customers across Canada opened up their hearts and wallets, raising $356,000 for Easter Seals programs and services this year to date. Money was raised through two in-store fundraisers, which were part of the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign in Ontario and the national Money Mart Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay.

Money Mart launched its 24 Hour Relay fundraising campaign in 2003and this year marks the company’s first as title sponsor of the 24 Hour Relay. Every year since then, more than 460 Money Mart branches have stepped up their fundraising efforts, bringing Money Mart’s fundraising total to more than $1.88 million.

“Money Mart continues to be a stalwart supporter of Easter Seals and the disability community,” says Max Beck, CEO of Easter Seals Canada. “Even during the current economic challenge, Money Mart has demonstrated true leadership and community spirit, ensuring that Canadians with disabilities enjoy life changing programs and services that Easter Seals provides.”

“We are incredibly proud of our involvement with Easter Seals and can’t thank our staff and customers enough for their tremendous efforts year after year,” says Norm Miller, COO of Dollar Financial Corp. - National Money Mart. “The programs and solutions provided through Easter Seals helps thousands of Canadians with disabilities in so many ways and we’re absolutely thrilled to be a part of that.”

“We would like to thank our staff and customers for supporting the Money Mart Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay,” says Larry Taylor, President, National Money Mart. “Our volunteer efforts at events across the country this summer, and our staffs promotion of this worthy cause has been impressive. Giving back is an important company value. Our staff and customers have more than demonstrated this with their generous donations raising $356,000.”

Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli was born on July 28, 1984 in Montreal, Canada. He was born with Arthrogryposis (multiplex congenital), which is a muscle disorder that limits motion in the joints. Typically, this rare disorder can affect the whole body but fortunately in Luca’s case, it affects only his legs.

In 1999 at age 15, Luca an avid dancer started to “break” during high school. The real reason for his newfound interest was actually on-going knee surgery that left him unable to continue skateboarding. Noting his muscular arms, and natural athleticism, Luca’s friends thought he would do well in this extremely dynamic activity. They took him to his first Break-Dance competition, and since then, it became his passion.

In 2002, ‘‘Lazylegz’’ moved back to Montreal, and began learning the secrets of the vast, evolving Street Culture that helped form his greater appreciation of the Hip Hop Community. Through hard work and dedication, Luca developed a unique style, which incorporates both strength and crutches. In 2004, he joined forces with Canadian break-dance crew, Illmatic Styles, and won major North American events such as Back to the Underground, Last Man Standing. His newest crew ILL-Abilities, is a unique International BBoy crew that he founded consisting of dancers with disabilities only. Presently there are 4 “Ill-Abled” dancers, each with their own distinct style and character.

Today Luca resides in the city of Montreal, attending Concordia University, majoring in Marketing. Luca’s crutches are used in the same way as shoes; ‘’they are more of an accessory than a necessity’’. His disability never stopped him from accomplishing what doctors and most people considered impossible and according to Luca, it has helped him become the man he is today.

For more information about Ill Abilities, check out their website at:
http://www.lazylegz.com

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