MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - 30th Children's Aid Foundation Gala - Teddy Bear Affair to celebrate enormous impact on the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable children and youth over the past 30 years

Gala will feature spectacular aerial silks performance by former youth in care and new fund to help at risk children and youth in Toronto

TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - On Saturday, November 26, the Children's Aid Foundation will celebrate the 30th Annual Children's Aid Foundation Gala - Teddy Bear Affair and its impact over the last 30 years on the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable children and youth in Toronto. Through the generosity of Torontonians, the gala has raised over $26 million to help meet the most urgent needs of children and youth in the child welfare system. Gala performances will highlight inspiring stories presented by former youth in care, including a spectacular aerial silks performance and the premiere of an original song. The highly anticipated evening will be hosted by Arisa Cox and will feature a sensational dinner designed by Victor Barry, chef-owner of Piano Piano.  Sponsored by patron partners CIBC and CGI, proceeds from the gala will go towards improving the lives of disadvantaged children and youth living in Toronto.

To mark the gala's milestone year, the Children's Aid Foundation is launching the Teddy Bear Fund, where donations can be made to ensure a long-term, stable source of funding addressing the most urgent needs of children in care of the child welfare system in the community. To learn more about the Teddy Bear Fund: cafdn.org/teddybearfund

Funds raised by the Teddy Bear Affair over the last 30 years have supported many initiatives including:

• over 5,000 summer camp experiences
• close to 60,000 birthday and holiday wishes granted
• 1000s of parenting, family support and community prevention programs
• 4,800 youth as they transitioned out of the child welfare system to independent living
• 2,000 children and youth with access to computers and computer skills
• over 2,000 adoption celebrations
• over 3,500 children and youth with school supplies

PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:

WHAT:	30th Annual Children's Aid Foundation Gala – Teddy Bear Affair
WHEN:	Saturday, November 26, 2016
	6:00 – 7:30 PM	Cocktail reception/photo opportunity
	7:30 pm	Dinner and entertainment begins
	8:30 pm	Aerial silks performance by Anna Amy Ho, crisis counsellor, child welfare advocate and former youth in care
WHY:	All funds raised will go to improving the lives of children and youth in Toronto's child welfare system.
WHO:	Valerie McMurtry, President and CEO, Children's Aid Foundation
	Barry Hildred, Board Chair, Children's Aid Foundation
	Victor and Maureen Dodig, Honorary chairs
	Gala emcee Arisa Cox, television and radio personality , host of Big Brother Canada
	Victor Barry, Chef/owner, Piano Piano
	Former youth in care
	Philanthropists and Toronto business leaders
WHERE:	Metro Toronto Convention Centre
	255 Front Street
	North Building – Hall C – check in at Media Desk

SOURCE Children's Aid Foundation

Media contact: Lisa Lipkin, Lisa Lipkin Communications, Tel: [phone]; E-mail: [email protected]