FCL provides $5 Million gift to children and families across Western Canada

CALGARY, May 30, 2013 /CNW/ - Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), on behalf of local Co-ops that make up the Co-operative Retailing System, knows it is important to do what's possible to make children and families feel at home while in hospital.  That's why FCL is making an historic gift of $5 million over five years to the five children's hospital foundations in Western Canada.  The gift is also the first time that the five children's hospital foundations have received a single donation to be shared between them.

For nearly a century, Co-ops have built their reputations on being the local business that cares about people and communities, partnering with others that hold similar values in support of causes that matter to each of us, says FCL CEO Scott Banda.

"Like you, we care about our children, our families and our communities," Banda told an audience gathered in Saskatoon and via web broadcast to sites in Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Victoria.  "At the end of the day nothing says 'you're at home' more than children and family.  That is why we support the five children's hospital foundations and the work they are doing to provide an environment that offers compassion and support to children and their families during some of the most difficult times in their lives."

Of the $5 million, B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation receives $550,000; Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, $825,000; Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation, $825,000; Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, $1.7 Million; and The Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, $1.1 Million.  The money was divided using a formula developed by FCL to allocate fairly region-wide gifts of this nature, and was agreed to by all parties.  The money to the Saskatchewan and Manitoba foundations is in addition to money already raised from Co-op/Rider and Co-op/Bomber "Game Day Approved" co-branded products.

In response, the five Children's Hospital Foundations thanked FCL and retail Co-ops for their generosity.

Teri Nicholas, President and CEO, B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation, said, "FCL and retail Co-ops' support for our Foundation will have a direct impact on children and families in every community in British Columbia."

Saifa Koonar, President and CEO, Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, said, "FCL and retail Co-ops' generosity will make a tremendous difference for the 82,000 children and families who need our hospital every year."

Mike House, President and CEO, Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation in Edmonton, said, "We appreciate FCL and retail Co-ops' support of medical excellence at the Stollery, and commitment to patient care for children and families who need it most."

Brynn Boback-Lane, President and CEO, Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan, said, "The support from FCL and retail Co-ops is a game changer that will allow the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan to get one step closer to bringing a children's hospital to the province."

Lawrence Prout, President and CEO, Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba, said, "Thanks to FCL and retail Co-ops' generous support, we will be able to fund important care and research initiatives that will lead to brighter and healthier futures for all children in our province."

During the ceremony, children and parents shared their personal stories and experiences with their local children's hospital and foundations.  Parents Karen Calhoun of Edmonton, Vince Fowler of Calgary, Erin Vipond of Vancouver, along with 12-year old Nadya Keenan of Saskatoon and 10-year old Kasen Andrusko of Winnipeg also thanked FCL, its employees, members and customers for their support of the five Children's Hospital Foundations.

SOURCE: Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation

(Editors:  For more information please contact BC Children's Hospital Foundation's Loretta Lawrence, 604.875.3429; Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation's Justine Clay, 403.955.8824; Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation's Martin Schuldhaus, 780.989.7392;
Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan's Brynn Boback-Lane, 306.931.4882; and Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba's Tanya Williams, 204.787.4080.  You can email FCL's Daryl Oshanek at [email protected] )