- Drive Change Day, August 21st, promotes positive change across Canada to improve local communities
- Shaw Media and TVA to support Drive Change Day as Kia's National Media Partner
- Kia is challenging all Canadians, Kia dealers, employees and business partners to get involved and make a difference in their community
- Drive Change Contest urges nominations of charitable organizations or individuals whose initiative would benefit from the use of one of four Kia vehicles for two years
MISSISSAUGA, ON, July 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Kia Canada Inc. (KCI) is building on the previous success of Drive Change Day for the third annual year on Wednesday, August 21st, 2013. Drive Change is a vital part of KCI's social responsibility program and emphasizes the company's commitment to assist in positive change in our surrounding communities throughout Canada.
In 2012, Kia Canada's second annual Drive Change Day grew considerably. There were over 2000 Drive Change activities and entries for four bursaries valued at $10,000 each that were provided towards community projects. Over and above this growth, Kia Canada employees and business partners, as well as every Kia dealership participated in Drive Change Day activities.
This year, Kia Canada has chosen to focus efforts on road safety and support our longstanding partnership with MADD Canada. As a proud partner of MADD Canada, Kia Canada is asking all Canadians to join us and take the pledge to drive sober and keep Canadian roads safe by visiting MapOfHope.ca. Although Kia Canada's focus is on road safety, we encourage any initiatives that benefit local Canadian communities, no matter how big or small.
"By building awareness with MADD Canada, we hope to reduce the daily average of four Canadians being needlessly killed, and an additional 200 individuals hurt, as a result of impaired crashes on roadways across the nation," said Maria Soklis, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), Kia Canada Inc. "In addition to our focus on road safety, we are excited to be able to offer Canadian charitable organizations the chance to use one of four of our vehicles for two years to Drive Change across Canada."
In partnership with Shaw Media (including: Global TV, HGTV and Food Network) and Quebecor Media (including: TVA, LCN, Casa, Addik and Mlle), KCI's Drive Change Day message will proudly be aired through television spots and segments nationally. A series of television spots featuring influential ambassadors such as: Maria Soklis - Vice President and COO Kia Canada, Rick Campanelli - ET Canada host, Tim Leiweke - President and CEO MLSE, Jim Kenzie - Automotive Journalist, Brad Diamond - Motoring Television, Andrew Murie - CEO MADD Canada, Joey Saputo - President of the Montreal Impact and Anouk Meunier - TV host of new Accès Limité on TVA, were created to inspire Canadians to visit the Drive Change Day website headquarters - www.DriveChangeWithKia.ca. The television spots offer tips on how someone can get involved easily with Drive Change. All of the celebrity ambassadors will be taking part in public events on and leading up to August 21st, which will be well documented throughout the media firms.
Kia Canada Inc. (www.kia.ca - www.facebook.com/kiacanada) a maker of quality vehicles for the young-at-heart is a subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) which was founded in 1999 and sells and services high quality, class leading vehicles like the Soul, Forte, Optima and Sorento through a network of 181 dealers nationwide. Kia Canada Inc. employs 159 people in its Mississauga, Ontario headquarters and four regional offices across Canada, with an all-new state-of-the-art facility to open in Montreal shortly. Kia's brand slogan "The Power to Surprise" represents the company's global commitment to surprise the world by providing exciting & inspiring experiences that go beyond expectations.
SOURCE: KIA Canada Inc.
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Jack Sulymka
National PR and Corporate Partnerships Manager
Kia Canada Inc.
T: 905.755.6266
C: 905.301.6207
E: [email protected]
Daniel Ponzini
Public Relations and Events Coordinator
Kia Canada Inc.
T: 905.755.6415
C: 647.462.8986
E: [email protected]
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