National Arts Centre Orchestra Players Association/
News Release

The musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra are pleased to announce that the 2010 NACO musicians’ Christmas FanFair fundraising campaign has raised a total of $33,705 for the Snowsuit Fund and the Ottawa Food Bank. This amount will be divided evenly between the two charities.

Principal organizers Marjolaine Fournier and David Thies-Thompson and the musicians of the NAC Orchestra wish most sincerely to thank the National Arts Centre, the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir (prepared by music director Kevin Reeves), 2010 NACO Bursary winner, violist Emilie Grimes, the KidSingers from the Ottawa OrKidstra program, special guest conductor Mayor Jim Watson, neophyte percussionist Jayne Watson, members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 471, and Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, for their generous support.

Begun in 1989, this is now the third decade for the Christmas FanFair benefit produced by the musicians of the NAC Orchestra to benefit the Snowsuit Fund and the Ottawa Food Bank. The Snowsuit Fund is an Ottawa-based charity that has been raising funds for the purchase and distribution of snowsuits to needy children 15 years and under for more than 25 years. The demand for their services continues to grow; in 2008-2009, the Snowsuit Fund distributed nearly 15,000 new snowsuits. The Ottawa Food Bank provides 43,000 people each month with emergency food assistance, 40% of whom are children. The Ottawa Food Bank supports more than 135 food programs throughout the National Capital Region, distributing 12 tons of food every working day; $1 donated to the Ottawa Food Bank generates $5 worth of food into the community.

- 30 -

Information:
Gerald Morris
Communications Officer, NAC Music
613-947-7000, ext. 335
[email] gmorris@nac-cna.ca