Media Release / Web Announcement
WE CARE HONOURED WITH PATRON AWARD FOR ITS SUPPORT OF EASTER SEALS AND KIDS WITH DISABILITIES
September 2022 – It is with great pleasure that Easter Seals Canada announces We Care (formerly known as Friends of We Care) as the recipient of the 2022 Easter Seals Patron Award.
The Easter Seals Patron Award is a prestigious honour and the highest recognition that Easter Seals Canada bestows annually to an organization in recognition of its long-term commitment and financial support for Easter Seals’ mission and work. Easter Seals Patron Award recipients demonstrate unwavering dedication to the advancement of accessibility and inclusivity issues in Canada.
According to Dave Starrett, President & CEO of Easter Seals Canada, “We thank We Care and the We Care community for its decades long support for Easter Seals and kids with disabilities, and for staying by our side and helping us meet the challenges brought about by the pandemic in the last two years. Today, the Easter Seals camp program is one of the largest and strongest in the nation – and, for a charity, one of the most robust in the world – all thanks to donors like We Care and its community of Member Sponsors.”
We Care unites a network of Member Sponsor organizations and industry supporters with one common goal: bringing joy to kids with disabilities. As the Charity of Choice of the Foodservice and Hospitality Industry, We Care partners with companies to raise money through fundraising events and initiatives to send kids with disabilities to fully accessible Easter Seals summer camps across Canada. Originally backed by manufacturers, distributors and operators, We Care’s network has evolved to include many other businesses supporting the foodservice industry. Since 1983, We Care has raised over $25.5 million for Easter Seals.
“We Care is so honoured to be recognized for its work and support of Easter Seals on this very special 100th anniversary year. We want to congratulate Easter Seals on a century of service, and for promoting and highlighting the abilities of all Canadians to contribute, and move our society forward towards a truly accessible and inclusive future. We are so proud to have been part of this journey over the past four decades and look forward to continue partnering with Easter Seals to help fund life-changing accessible camp experiences for kids across Canada.”
– Tiana Rodrigue, Executive Director, We Care
For more information about We Care, visit the We Care website at https://wecare-canada.org.
Above (Left to Right): Michael Duffy, Chair of Easter Seals Canada Board of Directors; Tiana Rodrigue, Executive Director of We Care; Steve Prisco, Past Chair of We Care Board of Directors
Above (Left to Right): Tiana and Steve with youth ambassadors from Easter Seals Ontario (Sebastien Parent and Hoor Ulain Nassani) and Easter Seals Newfoundland (Brandon Bowen)
Above (Left to Right): Tiana and Steve with youth ambassadors from Easter Seals, Easter Seals provincial CEOs, and Easter Seals Canada board members
Above: The staff from We Care holding up an oversized cheque donation for Easter Seals.
Above: We Care staff and Network Member Sponsors at Easter Seals Ontario’s Camp Woodeden for a special We Care Camp Day.
Above: We Care volunteers and Easter Seals campers with their special We Care teddy bears.
About Easter Seals Canada
Easter Seals is Canada’s largest local provider of programs, services, and issues-leadership and development for the disability community. Since 1922, Easter Seals Canada and its provincial member organizations have been working to create a more inclusive and accessible society that includes and honours the contributions and potential of Canadians of all abilities. Easter Seals responds to the needs and aspirations of Canadians living with disabilities – and their families – by providing services that enhance their independence, well-being and quality of life; and by offering leadership that promote increased awareness, research and investment in disability issues.
For more information about Easter Seals, please contact partnerships@easterseals.ca
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