Algonquin College School of Hospitality & Tourism Pledges $1 Million Dollars to Children's Wish

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

OTTAWA, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Algonquin College School of Hospitality & Tourism's Event Management program announced its plans to extend its 'Creating Magic' program in support of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada until it has reaches its goal of raising $1 million for the Foundation.  To date, the partnership between the Event Management faculty and students and Children's Wish has generated close to $500,000.

Beginning in 2008, Algonquin's Event Management faculty decided to offer an experiential style of learning by matching the program with a charity partner. Students study marketing, critical paths, sponsorship, media relations and of course all the ins-and-outs of creating events.  Over the course of the term, students plan and execute a number of events, with all proceeds supporting Children's Wish. This hands-on approach with a charity partner has proven to be very successful creating a win-win for all involved.

"The opportunity to combine learning with a sense of philanthropy makes Algonquin College a leader in the field of post-secondary education," notes Sue Walker, National Capital Region Chapter Director for The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.  "The ongoing support the Foundation receives from Algonquin's faculty and students means that many more children with a life threatening illness will see their most heartfelt wish become a reality."

"We are tremendously proud of all our Event Management students and what they have already accomplished," says Michel Savard, Dean, School of Hospitality & Tourism. "We eagerly look forward to what this year's students and future students are able to accomplish in support of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. Algonquin College is a leader in applied learning and, through our support of this amazing organization, we are able to showcase our commitment to supporting the local community while also offering our students a very realistic experiential learning opportunity."

To help the Event Management students reach their goal, other programs within the School of Hospitality & Tourism will continue to offer their skills at the events put on by the Event Management students. This includes students preparing a culinary experience within the school's Restaurant International, providing flair bartending services at +19 events, providing hairstyling and esthetic services at ladies night or spa events, or preparing hundreds of gingerbread cookies.

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

Each year, thousands of Canadian children between the ages of three and 17 are diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Since 1984, The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has worked tirelessly to grant exceptional wishes to 18,000 children and their families.

This year, Children's Wish expects to grant over 1,000 new wishes and with the help of volunteers and generous donors, is able to grant nearly three wishes every day.  Each wish is an individual adventure, carefully structured to meet the needs of a particular child and family. Children's Wish is a national charity with chapters in every province and territory.  For more information, visit www.childrenswish.ca.

Algonquin College:

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is located in the nation's capital and the Ottawa Valley, and is the largest college in Eastern Ontario, with 18,000 full-time and 35,000 part-time students in more than 170 programs. Algonquin is a leader in the integration of technology into learning, and is strongly committed to student success. For more information, visit www.algonquincollege.com.

Image with caption: "Michel Savard, Dean, School of Hospitality and Tourism, Algonquin College with 8-year-old wish child Angelina Comba (CNW Group/The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121023_C9556_PHOTO_EN_19674.jpg

SOURCE: The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
Sandra Gregory
Communications Specialist
Telephone: [phone]
[email protected] 

Algonquin College
Phil Gaudreau
Communications Officer
Telephone : [phone]
[email protected]