TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2015 /CNW/ - Fourteen-year-old Alissa from Alberta is the grand prize winner of the annual Pier 1 Imports®/UNICEF/Owlkids Greeting Card Contest. Alissa's design will become an official UNICEF greeting card sold exclusively at Pier 1 Imports stores across Canada during the 2015 holiday season. As the winner, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship and $500 in art supplies for her school.
Pier 1 Imports received more than 1,200 creative designs from children across Canada, all uniquely depicting the theme of Spreading Holiday Cheer. Alissa's winning design illustrates four jolly snowmen who exemplify this theme.
Canadians also had the opportunity to vote for their favorite design. Fourteen-year-old Katherine from Ontario is this year's Fan's Choice Award recipient and winner of $500 in art supplies. Katherine's design depicts two friends exchanging gifts in a wintery scene. All winners also received an Owlkids prize pack.
"Congratulations to this year's winners! We saw an incredible range of designs from budding young artists from across the country. It was great to see so many Canadian children participating in this unique contest and using their creativity to help children around the world," says Sharon Avery, UNICEF Canada's Chief Development Officer. "Through this initiative and the generous support from our long-time partner Pier 1 Imports, UNICEF is able to reach more vulnerable children around the world."
The annual contest was launched in Canada in 2005 to help raise awareness about UNICEF's global work. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the sale of all UNICEF cards sold at Pier 1 stores across Canada go to supporting UNICEF.
To date, the partnership with Pier 1 Imports has raised more than $4.5 million to support children through UNICEF Canada.
To view this year's winning designs, visit www.unicef.ca or www.pier1.ca/unicef.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.
UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive.
For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca.
About Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports, Inc. is the original global importer of home décor and furniture. Information about the Company is available on www.pier1.com.
About Owlkids®
Owlkids is the English youth division of Bayard Canada. Owlkids publishes entertaining, unique, high-quality magazines and books that nurture the potential of children and instill in them a love of reading and learning — about themselves and the world around them.
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
Image with caption: "Alissa, 14, Alberta, 1st Place (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150127_C7165_PHOTO_EN_11539.jpg
For interviews or more information, please contact: Tiffany Baggetta, UNICEF Canada, 416-482-6552 ext. 8892, 647-308-4806 (mobile), [email protected]
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach...
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