Media Advisory - Bay Street takes one on the chin to help SickKids Hospital
and Nazareth House

Bankers to hold seventh annual charity boxing event

TORONTO, Sept. 27 /CNW/ - Fourteen of Bay Street's leading bankers and investors will once again step into the boxing ring to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) (sickkids.ca/paediatricemergencymedicine/) and Nazareth House (nazarethhouse.ca), a home for at-risk women and infants. The 7th Annual Fight for Independence (FFI) boxing event and charity auction will be held at Steam Whistle Brewing (steamwhistle.ca) on September 29th, 2010.

The event, which has raised nearly $1 million since its inception in 2004, was the brainchild of Bay Street traders, James Beattie, Jackie Walker and Tom Gajer. "Jackie, Tom and I were reflecting on Christmas and decided we needed to give more back to the community," says Mr. Beattie, head of institutional trading at CIBC. "We met Sister June Dwyer, who runs Nazareth House, and saw the lasting difference she was making in people's lives - but on a shoe-string budget. Before long, we knew we needed to find a way to raise money for the amazing work she and others were doing at the House."

For the third year in a row the event has been expanded to also raise funds for the emergency department at SickKids Hospital.

On the card for the 2010 FFI are seven celebrity boxing matches with representatives from 11 different Bay Street firms. The year's event will see former Toronto Argonaut, Adrion Smith, lace up the gloves and hop into the ring for the first time.

WHAT:	Bay Street bankers and investors jump into the boxing ring to raise money for the emergency department at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Nazareth House.
	An evening of fine food by Chiado, named one of the top ten restaurants in Toronto
	Live auction for: - VIP Trip to St Lucia - Racing with Scott Maxwell - Golf with former NHL players Kevin Weekes and Steve Rucchin - Top Gun Training - Jimmy Kimmel in LA -  2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda
WHO:	14 Bay Street Bankers climb through the ropes - including former Argo Adrion Smith Gino Reda from TSN as emcee Entertainment by "God Made Me Funky".
WHEN:	Wednesday, September 29 Doors open at 6:30 PM Live Auction at 7:30 PM Boxing starts at 8:00 PM
WERE:	Steam Whistle Brewery The Roundhouse 255 Bremner Blvd. Toronto

Tickets are available on the Fight for Independence website - fightforindependence.com

Nazareth House

Nazareth House is a registered charity (No. 13648 2635 RR0001) sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto with funding from the City of Toronto and private donations. It is an eight bedroom house in downtown Toronto, providing 24 hour/day safe, healthy and affordable housing to women and infants who are fleeing from domestic abuse, or who are recovering from mental health and substance abuse issues. Nazareth House is a non-denominational agency, responsive to women's diverse traditions and cultures and accepts self-referrals, along with referrals from hospitals, treatment centres, and social agencies. Learn more at: www.nazarethhouse.ca.

About SickKids Foundation

Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation is the fundraising organization for The Hospital for Sick Children - Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country. The Foundation's fundraising is driven by the belief that improving the health and wellbeing of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society.

For further information:

Cailey Heaps Estrin at [phone], [email protected]