TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - Not everyone has the pluck to step into a chicken suit and make a charitable pitch. But if you're award-winning sportscaster and host of Hockey on TSN, James Duthie, dressing up like a chicken is a regular day on the job as a volunteer Ambassador for Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC).
"A chicken is the most popular item people choose to give to vulnerable children in need around the world," says Duthie. "It's easy to get wrapped up in the commercial madness of the holiday season, but I wanted to send a message to Canadians about how they can help children get access to basic necessities like food, water, health care and education. I've chosen five top picks from CCFC's Gifts of Joy catalogue that can make a real difference in the life of a child and their family."
James Duthie's Top Five Picks from the Gifts of Joy catalogue
1. Five Chickens - $50
For $50, you can provide five chickens to a family in need. Each hen lays over 250 eggs per year, so these truly are 'gifts that keep on giving'. Eggs can be used for direct consumption by the family, or can be sold by the family to generate an income.
2. Sports Balls - $30
When you give children a ball, they have an opportunity for play, teamwork, and motor learning, which are all important skills in and out of the classroom. This gift provides a community with sports balls such as soccer balls, basketballs and volleyballs. With a Government of Canada matching contribution of 4 times, you get a $120 impact with this gift.
3. Learning at Play - $50 (share in)
This gift allows children to learn about fair play, teamwork, cooperation, creativity and imagination through access to sports equipment and art supplies. With a Government of Canada matching contribution of 4 times, you get a $200 impact with this gift.
4. Send a Girl to School for One Year - $100
Girls in the developing world frequently do not have the opportunity to go to school. The cost of education is one big reason. But this gift provides a young girl a year's worth of school supplies, a uniform, money for transportation and more.
5. Help Build a Well - $250 (share in)
This gift provides access to clean drinking water for an entire community – improving the chances for all to thrive in better health. Often the solution lies right underfoot. A well gets to the groundwater, providing a reliable source of water year round.
Canadians can visit ccfcanada.ca/giftsofjoy to select items for children in need. James Duthie will have the unique opportunity to deliver some of the gifts purchased when he travels to Paraguay with Christian Children's Fund of Canada in early 2015.
Click here to view the video of James Duthie in a chicken suit.
About James Duthie
James Duthie is the beloved host of Hockey on TSN, and among the most talented stars in Canadian sports broadcasting. Inspired by the work of Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), Duthie joined the organization as Ambassador in 2014. In this role, Duthie represents CCFC at events, in the media and on tour, visiting children and communities whose lives have been changed as a result of the generosity of Canadian donors.
About Christian Children's Fund of Canada
Christian Children's Fund of Canada is a member of ChildFund Alliance, a worldwide group of 12 child-centred development organizations working in 57 countries to implement long-lasting and meaningful changes for children and families. For more than 50 years, CCFC has been helping children and families of all faiths move from poverty to self-reliance. CCFC supports children and communities in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Nicaragua and Paraguay. Currently, CCFC has over 50,000 children sponsored, benefitting more than 500,000 people around the world.
For further information, visit ccfcanada.ca and look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Video with caption: "Video: TSN’s James Duthie sports chicken suit for charity". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20141204_C8596_VIDEO_EN_9019.mp4&posterurl=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20141204_C8596_VIDEO_EN_9019.jpg&order=1&jdd=20141204&cnum=C8596
Image with caption: "TSN host James Duthie wearing a chicken suit to promote Christian Children?'s Fund of Canada?'s Gifts of Joy catalogue. (CNW Group/Christian Children's Fund of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141204_C8596_PHOTO_EN_9009.jpg
Image with caption: "Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CNW Group/Christian Children's Fund of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141204_C8596_PHOTO_EN_9010.jpg
SOURCE: Christian Children's Fund of Canada
For media interviews, please contact: Bonar Bell, Communications Manager, Christian Children's Fund of Canada, 1-800-263-5437 ext. 221, [email protected]
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