BC Children's Hospital and the F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids'
Mental Health selected as Local Charity Partners for 2011 RBC Canadian Open
Canada's National Open Championship continues to work towards
goal of raising $5 million in charitable proceeds over the
first five years of RBC's involvement as title sponsor
Vancouver (Golf Canada) April 28, 2011 — As
part of the ongoing philanthropic strategy for the RBC Canadian
Open, Golf Canada and RBC today announced that BC Children's
Hospital Foundation and the F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental
Health have been selected as the local community charity beneficiaries
for the 2011 edition of Canada's National Open Championship,
set for July 18-24 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in
Vancouver.
A committee consisting of RBC Canadian Open tournament officials
and the RBC Foundation identified potential local charity
candidates in the Vancouver area before ultimately selecting
BC Children's Hospital Foundation and The F.O.R.C.E Society
for Kids' Mental Health as this year's local beneficiaries.
"Along with our partners at RBC, we believe it is critical
that the RBC Canadian Open leave a lasting legacy in our local
host communities," said Scott Simmons, Executive Director
and CEO, Golf Canada. "BC Children's Hospital and The
F.O.R.C.E. have such an incredible impact on the children,
their families and the local community and we are thrilled
to have them as our local charity partners for 2011."
"RBC has always believed in giving back to important
charitable causes in our local communities," said Graham
MacLachlan, B.C. Regional President, RBC. "We are proud
that the charitable proceeds from this year's tournament will
benefit two outstanding organizations -BC Children's Hospital
and The F.O.R.C.E.-both of which RBC has supported and partnered
with for a number of years."
BC Children's Hospital provides specialized pediatric care
services for the province's most seriously ill or injured
children, including newborns and adolescents. Caring for over
78,000 children annually, BC Children's Hospital is also the
province's foremost teaching and research facility in the
field of child health.
"BC Children's Hospital Foundation is grateful for RBC's
longstanding support of child health," said Teri Nicholas,
president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "Contributions
from the RBC Canadian Open will help the hospital deliver
specialized care to children across the province."
The F.O.R.C.E. (Families Organized for Recognition and Care
Equality) Society for Kids' Mental Health is a registered
non-profit society acting on behalf of the mental health of
children, youth and their families through advocacy, education
and support. The F.O.R.C.E. aspires to promote equality of
care in children's mental health and ultimately influence
change in mental health intervention.
"The selection of The F.O.R.C.E. as one of the community
partners for the 2011 RBC Canadian Open will have a tremendous
impact on our capacity to reach families throughout British
Columbia," said F.O.R.C.E. Executive Director Keli Anderson.
"With four to five children and youth in any classroom
of 30 affected by mental health challenges, thousands of families
are impacted and only 20 per cent receive service of any kind.
Most go without any services or supports and often are isolated
due to the stigma of mental health. Through the support of
the RBC Canadian Open, the F.O.R.C.E. will extend its work
and network of parents to support more families throughout
British Columbia."
As the local charity partners, BC Children's Hospital and
The F.O.R.C.E. will work with Golf Canada and RBC to roll
out fundraising and awareness campaigns leveraged around their
involvement with the 2011 RBC Canadian Open.
The campaigns-which will be announced in the coming weeks-will
feature fundraising activities both in advance and during
tournament week including the sale of RBC Canadian Open ticket
packages. In addition, RBC will launch an in-branch program
selling RBC Canadian Open hats at all branches in B.C. starting
June 13th and leading up to the 2011 RBC Canadian Open with
all proceeds from hat sales benefitting BC Children's Hospital
and The F.O.R.C.E.
As key players in the local community, BC Children's Hospital
and The F.O.R.C.E. are optimistic about their ability to draw
on the generosity of their network of donors to help Golf
Canada and RBC surpass the $1.3 million in charitable dollars
that was raised in the name of the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.
Spectators can enjoy the 2011 RBC Canadian Open and support
a pair of critical children's charities in Vancouver simply
by purchasing a ticket to this year's event. Children aged
17 and under earn free admission when accompanied by a ticketed
adult.
The philanthropic platform of Canada's National Open Championship
is based on a joint commitment between Golf Canada and RBC
to generate $5 million for charity over the first five years
of RBC's sponsorship. Each year, the tournament selects a
local charity partner to ensure that the event creates a lasting
legacy in each year's host community. Since 2008, the first
year of RBC's involvement, more than $3.1 million in charitable
proceeds have been raised.
In addition to the community charity partner(s), 2011 marks
the fourth year for the Mike Weir Foundation as the national
charity partner for the RBC Canadian Open. Charitable dollars
for the Mike Weir Foundation are raised through various activities
being conducted leading up to and throughout RBC Canadian
Open tournament week.
For more information on tickets, corporate hospitality, and
sponsorship information please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com
or call
1-800-571-6736.
BC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service
acute care hospital and serves the one million children living
in BC and the Yukon. All children who are seriously ill or
injured are referred to Children's Hospital and are either
treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation
from Children's specialists, in their home community. Last
year, more than 78,000 children were treated at Children's
Hospital. BC Children's Hospital Foundation received donations
from more than 120,000 people last year and had revenues of
over $85 million. Funds raised by the foundation are used
to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre
for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
For more information, visit www.bcchf.ca.
F.O.R.C.E. SOCIETY FOR KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH
The F.O.R.C.E. was founded in 2000 by 2 mothers and has become
the leading children's mental health voice in British Columbia.
The F.O.R.C.E. is an organization dedicated and committed
to child and youth mental health and is operated by families
for families. The Society provides services in advocacy, education,
information and navigation. The F.O.R.C.E. has networks of
parents in almost all regions of British Columbia. The F.O.R.C.E.
Society for Kids' Mental Health is committed to building relationships
and engaging families with services, systems, care providers
and businesses that have a responsibility for supporting child
and youth mental health. For more information, please visit
www.forcesociety.com.
ABOUT THE 2011 RBC CANADIAN OPEN
An exciting new era has arrived for Canada's national championship.
Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete
for $5.2 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 18-24,
2011 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Established
in 1904, the tournament is the third-oldest national open
golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the
U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC,
Bell, BMW Group Canada, Southern Implants, C.F.F Stainless
Steels, The Glenlivet, The Globe and Mail, Mike Weir Wine,
TaylorMade Adidas Golf and Corona. For updated corporate hospitality,
tickets, volunteer and sponsorship information please visit
www.rbccanadianopen.com
or call 1-800-571-6736.
RBC AND THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC is the title sponsor
of the RBC Canadian Open, the third oldest national golf championship
worldwide, next only to the British Open and the U.S. Open.
With a history of great players and premier fields, the RBC
Canadian Open provides golf fans with the opportunity to experience
the excitement of a world class event on Canadian soil. RBC
also sponsors all levels of amateur sport, from grassroots
programs in local communities to national sport organizations
and elite-level athletes.
GOLF CANADA - LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.
Golf Canada - a member-based organization governed by the
Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) - is the governing
body of golf in Canada, representing close to 350,000 members
at almost 1,500 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport
Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf
in this country, Golf Canada is responsible for promoting
participation in and a passion for the game of golf in Canada.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dan Pino, Director,
Media and Public Relations
Golf Canada
t: 1.800.263.0009 ext. 406; c: 416.434.5525
Jackie Braden
Senior Manager, Brand Communications, RBC
t: 416.974.1724
Marcie Mark, Philanthropy
Officer
BC Children's Hospital Foundation
t: 604.875.2345 ext. 6624
c: 604.250.9484
Keli Anderson, Executive
Director
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health
t: 604.878.3400
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