CAA wins Canada Sings; $25,000 for SickKids

TORONTO, May 30, 2012 /CNW/ - The CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) team sang and danced their hearts out on Canada Sings last night and it paid off to the tune of $25,000 for SickKids Foundation.

The second-year reality TV show pits teams of co-workers against each other in the on-stage competition to win prize money for a charity of their choice. CAA SCO's glee team named The Associates, went head to head against the Ontario Science Centre and despite a close decision between celebrity judges Vanilla Ice, Jann Arden and Laurieann Gibson, came out on top.

The journey to appear on the popular reality TV show began eight months ago for the team when 12 passionate employees were coached on how to dance, sing and perform on stage. All of their hard work culminated in the performance of a lifetime last night in Toronto in front of a crowd of thousands.

"Watching the team excel on the stage, and win for SickKids Foundation was incredible. It truly showcased the hidden talents of our employees, but more importantly, highlighted the passion that drives them to succeed for a common good," said Nick Parks, President & CEO, CAA SCO.

SickKids Foundation is one of four CAA SCO corporate charities. The company is also hosting its fourth annual charity golf tournament for this year, as well as a number of employee initiatives annually and to date has raised over $250,000 for the hospital.

"It is through initiatives like this that we can all help improve the lives of children and their families who rely on the hospital. We are so grateful to CAA for their ongoing corporate support and especially to The Associates for choosing us," says Diane Armes-Redrupp, Associate Director, Corporate Partnerships, SickKids Foundation.

CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club offering insurance, travel, automotive care and roadside services. There are more than 1.8 million CAA members in South Central Ontario and 5 million members in Canada. We're more than Roadside Assistance. We're Life-side Assistance. Visit www.caasco.com.

Media contact: Jeff LeMoine, Communications Specialist, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone] or Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Specialist, CAA SCO, [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone].