Bell Celebrity Gala Raises $1 Million For Sickkids Foundation

Bell Canada today announced that the 2006 Bell Celebrity Gala raised $1 million for SickKids Foundation, in support of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

In 2005, Bell Canada announced a five-year commitment to SickKids Foundation, that includes $5 million in fundraising proceeds collected through the Annual Bell Celebrity Gala and Bell Celebrity Classic events as well as a $5 million corporate gift to be distributed over a five year period.

"At Bell, we believe in investing in the communities we serve," said Michael J. Sabia, CEO of Bell Canada. "The Bell Celebrity Gala allows us to contribute to a cause that we care deeply about as a company - the health of children and youth. This country's future is being determined today and we take pride in supporting the ability of the SickKids Foundation to enable children to reach their full potential, no matter what the challenges." The funds will be used to support projects in the hospital's emergency department, to enhance patient care and to enhance other high-priority needs that include improving the patient and family experience during emergency visits.

"Bell Canada continually demonstrates that strong corporate leadership can make a difference in children's health," said Michael O'Mahoney, President of SickKids Foundation. "Bell's ongoing commitment to SickKids Foundation makes it possible for SickKids to deliver the lifesaving research and care that the hospital has become synonymous with. We're thrilled that the $1 million dollars from this year's gala will go towards much-needed improvements to the emergency department at SickKids." Since 1977, Bell Canada has participated in numerous programs that help SickKids provide world-class care for children. For close to 30 years, Bell has supported hospital fundraising campaigns, a pilot telehealth child home care project and most notably in 2003, a donation in support of the hospital's multi media theatre within the newly renovated Cardiac Diagnostic and Interventional Unit (CDIU).

The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, affectionately known as SickKids, is one of the largest paediatric health and scientific research centres in the world. Approximately 50,000 children are treated in the emergency centre each year. Some 15,000 children a year are admitted to the hospital itself, while its 100 clinics see 300,000 patients annually. In addition to treating Toronto-based patients, SickKids cares for children from all over Canada and from more than 40 countries each year.

Winner of the 2004 and 2005 Canadian Event Industry's STAR Award for 'Best Event Produced for a Charitable Organization in Canada', the Bell Celebrity Gala set a fundraising goal of $1,000,000 and an attendance goal of 2,000 guests and approximately 200 celebrities this year.

About SickKids Foundation SickKids Foundation was established in 1972. Its mission is to inspire its communities to invest in health and scientific advances to improve the lives of children and their families in Canada and around the world. Its vision is "Healthier children. A better world." In addition to its support of The Hospital for Sick Children, the Foundation has a mandate to support children's health on a national basis.

Through its National Grants Program, SickKids Foundation invests $4 million annually across Canada in paediatric research, focusing on issues important to children's health which have not been addressed elsewhere.

About Bell Canada Bell Canada is Canada's national leader in communications with 28 million customer connections across the country. The company provides consumers with simple solutions to all their communications needs, including telephone services, wireless communications, high-speed Internet, digital television and voice over IP. Bell also offers integrated information and communications technology (ICT) services to businesses and governments, and is the Virtual Chief Information Officer (VCIO) to small and medium businesses (SMBs). Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive Communications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Bell is wholly-owned by BCE Inc. For information on Bell's products and services, please visit www.bell.ca, and for corporate information on BCE, please visit www.bce.ca.

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Paolo Pasquini, Bell Canada, Media Relations, (416) 581-3311, 1-888-482-0809, [email protected]; Lori Abbott, Public Affairs; SickKids Foundation (416) 813-8292, [email protected]

For More Infromation Please contact:
Paolo Pasquini
Media Relations
Phone: 1-888-482-0809
Email: [email protected]

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