TIFF Film + Reception: GTA's UN Placement Candidates Need Funds

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - On September 17th, at TIFF Bell Lightbox, the United Nations Association in Canada - Toronto (UNACTO) first annual Fund Our Futures reception and screening will be held in order to build awareness and funds for accepted GTA candidates to the United Nations Professional Placement Programme, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper has substantially reduced the funding. In partnership with United Nations' Human Rights Commissioner Chris Mburu's Hilde Back Education Fund's Emmy-nominated, Sundance Film Festival-premiered, Bill-Gates-George-Soros-attended, HotDocs Film Festival-featured documentary "A Small Act" and The Law Society of Upper Canada. Additional partners include Canada Newswire, Starbucks, Mondu Floral Design, Zâne Patisserie & Boulangerie, Ryerson University, Heroburgers' John Lettieri and Omega Group.

The Toronto Branch of the United Nations Association in Canada (UNACTO) is an integral part of UNAC, the national organization. Toronto educates Torontonians about how they can practice and promote the United Nations' activities and programmes. The UNPP programme provides an avenue through which qualified young Canadians can participate in the United Nations' work in developing countries. In 2001, UN Human Rights Commissioner Chris Mburu started the Hilde Back Education Fund, a charitable organization in Kenya whose work is to support the education of bright children from poor families like his. The story of Chris and Ms Hilde Back, a Swedish holocaust survivor who funded his education, is portrayed in an Emmy-nominated Hollywood documentary film called "A Small Act" that was featured extensively in Canadian media. Mr. Mburu is married to Ms Leslie Cummins of Toronto and they have three children. So, why participate in our Fund Our Futures fundraiser? Because it is the opportunity to:

• Contribute to the GTA's UNPP Programme candidates
• Interview the film's star Chris Mburu and *award-Winning Filmmaker Jennifer Arnold who is available for interviews here: [phone], [e-mail]
• Network with United Nations' colleagues
• Meet World Federation of United Nations Associations/United Nations Association in Canada's President Kate White
• Learn about the UN-World Fashion Week's Canadian Representative Adrian Wu
• Witness Mr. John Lettieri give a prestigious HeroBurgers award to Ms Teriano Lesancha, the first Kenyan Massai woman to obtain a university degree (Ryerson)
• Hear Rasool Verjee, founder of Lavalife and International Chair of Fundraising, HBEF, speak at the reception.

Our UNACTO fundraiser's 5 pm screening + presentations is just twenty dollars + tax. The screening, presentations + 7:30 reception are just a hundred dollars. Limited tickets are available here.

Image with caption: "A Small Act - a film by Jennifer Arnold (CNW Group/CNW Group Ltd.) (CNW Group/United Nations Association in Canada - Toronto (UNACTO))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130913_C7110_PHOTO_EN_30824.jpg

SOURCE: United Nations Association in Canada - Toronto (UNACTO)

For further information:

Gillian Moody: [e-mail]