18th Annual For Children We Care gala raises $1.1 million for BC Children's Hospital

Chinese-Canadian community shows its support for the Campaign for BC Children

VANCOUVER, Feb. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Close to 700 guests helped raise $1,105,986 at BC Children's Hospital Foundation's For Children We Care gala February 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The proceeds will support the construction of a new BC Children's Hospital, as will five gifts announced at the gala amounting to an additional $940,000 -- making it a $2-million evening. The five gifts included $150,000 from Patsy Hui; $250,000 from Sandy So; $300,000 from Jason and Emily Ko; $350,000 from Westbank Projects Corp. and $500,000 from gala chair Sylvia Chen.

"The Chinese-Canadian community is one of BC Children's Hospital's biggest supporters," said Teri Nicholas, president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "They made their commitment clear again with their incredible generosity at the For Children We Care gala. The funds raised take us even closer to our capital campaign goal of $200 million and to the opening of a new hospital in 2018."

Over 18 years the gala has raised over $10.6 million for BC Children's Hospital. In the past three years alone the Chinese-Canadian community has raised $5 million to support the construction of the Oncology Inpatient Unit in the new Children's Hospital.

"I'm proud to belong to a community that is so generous and committed to the health of our children," said Sylvia Chen. "I would like to thank all of our sponsors, volunteers and donors for their pledge of support. We owe the gala's success to them. I encourage everyone to continue giving, so that BC's children and families can continue to have access to the best possible medical care."

For the third year in a row the gala was presented by the Metro Vancouver BMW Retailers, with additional support from other sponsors. The evening featured a performance by Vancouver dance band, Ten Souljers.

About BC Children's Hospital and the Campaign for BC Children
BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute-care hospital dedicated to serving close to 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. In 2011, more than 81,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. BC Children's Hospital Foundation has received campaign donations from tens of thousands of British Columbians in over 270 BC communities. The community has contributed $162 million to date toward the $200-million Campaign for BC Children. For more information visit www.bcchf.ca and follow @BCCHF on Twitter.

SOURCE: BC Children's Hospital Foundation

Stephen Forgacs
Director, Communications
BC Children's Hospital Foundation
Tel: [phone]
Cell: 604-719-4381
Email: [email protected]