National Arts Centre announces the 2011 Share the Spirit campaign for deserving children and families
Ottawa (Canada) –The National Arts Centre (NAC), with the help of generous sponsors and patrons, is bringing the magic of live performing arts this holiday season and throughout the year to hundreds of deserving children and their families in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
This is the third year for Share the Spirit, an exciting initiative aimed at families who, for economic or health reasons, may not have the opportunity to enjoy live performances at the NAC. Share the Spirit will enable them to attend performances of holiday classics such as Handel’s Messiah, The Nutcracker, Andrew Craig’s Gospel Christmas with the NAC Orchestra, as well as Oliver!, and other wonderful productions throughout the NAC’s entire performance season – for free.
Ticket recipients will be chosen by the NAC’s community partners including Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, Candlelighters, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation, Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa, Community Living Renfrew County South, the Ottawa Food Bank, Royal Ottawa Place, the Sens Foundation, the Snowsuit Fund and the United Way.
Last year, more than 600 individual and corporate donors contributed to Share the Spirit, which handed out more than 1,000 tickets to deserving families to performances at the NAC.
“Share the Spirit touched so many hearts in 2010,” said Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation. “We’re proud of the success of the program over these last two years and hope to reach more deserving families this holiday season and throughout the entire year. There are so many people in the Ottawa area who should benefit from this opportunity.”
“Too many residents in our wealthy city don't share in all the blessings,” said Max Keeping, Honorary Chair of the Share the Spirit Campaign,” In some neighbourhoods, one if three children lives in poverty with little access to recreation and the arts. The community must ensure a level playing field for ALL children. Share the Spirit is a beautiful gift for disadvantaged children and their families.”
Share the Spirit is made possible through the support of Major Partners Tim Hortons and Trinity Development Group, Associate Partner MBNA Canada Bank, Supporting Partner the Hon. John Manley and Judith Manley as well as the more than 650 donors who have contributed to Share the Spirit through the NAC Foundation’s Donors’ Circle.
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Carl Martin |