CBC Toronto kicks off annual charity event

TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - On December 7, 2012 CBC Toronto will ring in Sounds of the Season in a big way! The annual charity event helps to raise food and monetary donations to support local food banks in Toronto and the GTA. The event at the CBC Broadcasting Centre in Toronto features an exciting line up of entertainers, including Juno and Grammy Award-winning artist Nelly Furtado, and the god-father of Canadian Hip Hop Maestro Wes Williams, and much more.

Come out from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to watch special live broadcasts featuring CBC Toronto personalities including Matt Galloway host of CBC Radio One Metro Morning and CBC Toronto News hosts Dwight Drummond and Anne-Marie Mediwake. The event also includes special appearances and book signings from Award-winning CBC Radio hosts and authors Jian Ghomeshi from Q, and Stewart McLean from The Vinyl Café.

Gail Nyberg, the food bank spokesperson for Sounds of the Season, says that this event is very important for food banks across the GTA, especially now as the number of visits to food banks continue to increase. "Sounds of the Seasons is a great way for us to fight hunger and help those in need in Toronto's diverse communities especially during this time of year."

The impact of this event is huge says Susan Marjetti, Managing Director of CBC Toronto. "Last year we raised almost $400,000 and 16,000 pounds of food. This success shows what happens when we all come together to raise money for a worthy cause." It gives CBC Toronto a perfect opportunity to put a human face to those who are affected by hunger.

Along with the special programming, the event also includes a one-of-a kind silent auction where people can bid on exciting prizes and a chance to spend time with their favourite CBC personalities.

Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at the CBC Toronto building entrances anytime between now and December 31, 2012. Monetary donations can also be made by phone [phone] or online at cbc.ca/toronto.

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CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

Daily Bread Food Bank

Daily Bread Food Bank is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. A leader in the fight against hunger, Daily Bread provides food and resources for almost 67,000 food bank visits and 14,000 meals a month to over 170 community agencies across Toronto. Find out more information at www.dailybread.ca.

Ontario Association of Food Banks

The Ontario Association of Food Banks is a network of 120 food banks and over 1,100 hunger relief programs across the province. Together, we serve 412,900 individuals, including 160,000 children, every month. We are committed to reducing hunger in Ontario through sustainable solutions that ensure the long-term health and success of communities across the province. To learn more, please visit: www.oafb.ca

SOURCE: Daily Bread Food Bank

For more information or for interview requests with Gail Nyberg, please contact: Sarah Anderson, Senior Manager Communications at Daily Bread Food Bank at 416-203-0050 x 238 or [email protected].

For questions about CBC Toronto 'Sounds of the Season' contact Ainka Jess, Senior Communications Officer, CBC Toronto at 416-205-2450 or [email protected].