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.

A $2 paper egg doesn’t seem much in the greater scheme of things. Multiply it by hundreds and thousands and that egg translates into transformational opportunities for hundreds of kids with disabilities.

In the weeks leading up to Easter, please visit one of our many participating retailers and partners and purchase a Paper Egg for Easter Seals kids.

Your $2 will go a long way.

Since it started in 2000, the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign has raised more than $5 million, sending kids with disabilities to Easter Seals camps and providing Canadians and their families with invaluable support services and enhance their lives immeasurably.

For three weeks each spring, participating retailers encourage their customers to purchase and write their names on Paper Eggs, which store staff display in windows and on walls.  The result: a colourful display of community support across the country.

All funds support Easter Seals programs and services in the province where it was raised.

Paper Egg Campaign 2010 - March 8 - April 4

Visit paperegg.ca for more information and to buy a paper egg online!

National Sponsors

The Bargain! Shop

Money Mart

Lawtons Drugs (Atlantic)

Price Chopper (Atlantic)

London Drugs (Western)

Click Here for a list of all supporters.

Edmonton Launch

Where: TB!S store at 11807 - 48 Street, Edmonton, AB
Time: 1:30pm (March 8th)
Details: Kevin Karius, Global TV Sports Anchor will host the launch and introduce Adam Thompson, the 2010 Northern Alberta Youth Ambassador. Susannah Staios will present Adam Thompson with a gift from her husband, Edmonton Oiler Steve Staios.

Regina Launch
Where: TB!S Store at 6175 Rochdale BLVD, Regina, SK
Time: 9:50am (March 8th)
Details: Alex Bear, the 2010 Easter Seals Ambassador for Regina, will kick things off with his classmates by purchasing the first paper eggs. Karen Moore, Regina Regional Director Saskatchewan Abilities Council, will talk about Easter Seals programs in Saskatchewan.

Port Credit Launch
Where: TB!S Store at 187 Lakeshore Rd East, Mississauga, ON
Time: 2pm (March 8th)
Details: Casey Mackay, the 2009 Easter Seals Ontario Ambassador and Mississauga native, will help kick things off at the Port Credit TB!S store. He’ll get some help from TB!S President and CEO Michael Roellinghoff.

Kitchener Launch
Where: TB!S Store at 700 Strasburg Rd., Forest Glen Centre, Kitchener, ON
Time: 11am (March 8th)
Details: Nathaniel Andrew, Easter Seals Kitchener Ambassador, will help kick things off at TB!S Kitchener store.

Perth Launch
Where: TB!S Store at 89 Dufferin Street, Perth, ON
Time: 10am (March 8th)
Details: Photo shoot with local Easter Seals Ontario ambassadors, Andrew and Matthew Maynard.

Petrolia Launch
Where: TB!S Store at 4141 Petrolia Line, unit # 1, Petrolia, ON
Time:  9:30am (March 8th)
Details: Bill Hoad, Easter Seals Representative joins Tammy Beaulieu, TB!S District Manager and Ken Johnston, TB!S Store Manager.

Paper Egg Media Launches

Easter Seals Anticipates Strong Results for 10th Annual Easter Seals^TM Paper Egg Campaign

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

The thesaurus might equate “disabled” with synonyms like “useless” and “mutilated,” but ground-breaking paraplegic runner Aimee Mullins is out to redefine the word. Defying these associations, she hows how adversity — in her case, being born without shinbones — actually opens the door for human potential.

For more on Aimee Mullins, click here.

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

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.

Our Stories is a quarterly ENewsletter that celebrates Easter Seals’ supporters and showcases how they are making a difference.

Our Stories, Winter 2009/10

Our Stories, Fall 2009

Our Stories, Summer 2009

Our Stories, Spring 2009

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The Draggins Rod & Custom Car Club

Saskatoon - For more than 40 consecutive years, the Draggins Rod & Custom Car Club has collectively supported Camp Easter Seal in Saskatchewan with contributions of over $1M. On November 13, this stalwart supporter of Easter Seals was honoured for outstanding philanthropic efforts at the 9th Annual AFP National Philanthropy Day luncheon in Saskatoon.The Draggins’ fund raising efforts have constructed a new aquatic centre, recreation centre, medical cabin, and four cedar cabins at Camp Easter Seal. The financial commitment from the Draggins enables Camp Easter Seal to meet the complex and unique needs of the campers.

“The Draggins support of Camp Easter Seal stands out as a shining example of what is possible when a group of committed individuals come together to make their community a better place. We are honoured to have the Draggins as one of our key partners,” states Joyce Phillips, Regional Director, Saskatoon Branch.

The Saskatchewan Abilities Council is a proud member of Easter Seals Canada. The financial support Easter Seals Saskatchewan receives each year allows rehabilitation and recreational programs to be offered to children with disabilities in this province.

For more on Easter Seals Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Abilities Council, click here.