IKEA Canada to donate turnover of SAGOSKATT soft toy collection to local charities in support of children's right to play and develop Français
Let's Play for Change campaign runs from November 19, 2018 to January 5, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON, Nov. 19, 2018 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada wants to inspire more play for a better everyday life through the Let's Play for Change campaign. From November 19, 2018 to January 5, 2019, IKEA is creating more playful moments in all its stores across Canada. These moments are designed creatively and playfully to surprise and encourage interaction. Play is vital every day for both children and adults to recharge, connect, learn, and explore to fuel creativity and development. During the campaign period, IKEA will also donate the full turnover of its SAGOSKATT soft toy collection to local charities across Canada that support childhood development.
From November 19 to 27, 2018, IKEA Family members between the ages of 0-12 can submit their drawings of the soft toy of their dreams as part of the annual drawing competition that develops the SAGOSKATT soft toy collection. The six most unique drawings will be turned into real soft toys in next year's collection.
"Play is key to childhood development. Driven by natural curiosity, play helps children master their bodies and minds, activates their imaginations and develops the cognitive, emotional and social skills that define them as adults," said Brendan Seale, Head of Sustainability, IKEA Canada, "We want to ensure all children exercise their right to play. Over the past five years, the drawing competition alone has engaged over 157,000 children around the world".
The IKEA Foundation will also support the Let's Play for Change campaign through its strong partnerships with international children's organizations such as Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International), Room to Read, Save the Children, Special Olympics, UNICEF and War Child. Granting Є45 million to these six children's partner organizations, the aim is to help every child experience their right to play, by alleviating external challenges such as a lack of safe spaces, education and healthcare in some of the worlds' poorest communities.
The Real Play Coalition, founded by IKEA, The LEGO Foundation, Unilever, and National Geographic announced its commitment to help combat the decline of play by introducing November as the Global Month of Play, and reinforcing its commitment to better understand where play is at greatest risk by launching the first-ever Play Gap report in partnership with University College London in early 2019.
Globally, 64 per cent of parents believe their children have fewer opportunities to play than they did as a child themselves. The Real Play Coalition will develop and support play based activities that give children opportunities to grow and learn through play around the world. Throughout November, touching homes, schools and communities, it will reach over three million children in more than 116 countries and activities will take place in 26,000 classrooms.
ABOUT IKEA CANADA
IKEA Group is a leading home furnishing retailer with 357 stores in more than 29 countries worldwide, which are visited by 817 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 14 stores, an eCommerce virtual store, five Pick-up and order points and 17 Collection Points. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 30 million visitors to its stores and 104 million visitors to the IKEA.ca website. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit www.IKEA.ca.
ABOUT IKEA FOUNDATION
The IKEA Foundation (Stichting IKEA Foundation) is the philanthropic arm of INGKAFoundation, the owner of the IKEA Group of companies. The IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world's poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programmes that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child's life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and a sustainable family income, while helping these communities fight and cope with climate change. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook.com/IKEAfoundation
ABOUT THE REAL PLAY COALITION
In January 2018, four of the world's most iconic organizations came together to champion play. IKEA, the LEGO Foundation, Unilever's Persil and OMO and National Geographic share a belief in the power of play to transform lives. They work together to develop and support play-based activities to give children opportunities to grow and learn through play. www.RealPlayCoalition.com . Follow the Real Play Coalition on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
SOURCE IKEA Canada
Maja Boricevic, Communications Specialist, IKEA Canada, [email protected]
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