With Premier Jean Charest and his wife, Michèle Dionne, as Patrons of Honour,
The ABC Ball for The Children's raises $765,000

MONTREAL, June 2 /CNW Telbec/ - The ABC Ball for The Children's, held by The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, took place on May 27 at Windsor Station. With Québec Premier Jean Charest and his wife, Michèle Dionne, as Patrons of Honour, the event brought together more than 500 guests, and raised $765,000 for the construction of the new Children's on the Glen Campus.

Each year, the ABC Ball recognizes ten remarkable people for their contributions to The Montreal Children's Hospital, its patients and their families. The Awards of Excellence Ceremony was hosted by Marianna Simeone, of CBC News Montreal, and actor Rémy Girard, while the remainder of the evening was hosted by actor Chantal Lamarre and entertainment reporter Mosé Persico.

Rio Tinto Alcan, one of the ten Awards of Excellence sponsors, took advantage of the event to announce a generous donation of $2.5 million to The Best Care for Children Campaign. "Rio Tinto Alcan is proud of the outstanding care Montrealers have received from The Montreal Children's Hospital since 1904. Like Rio Tinto Alcan, The Montreal Children's Hospital is an important part of the Montreal community and a leader in its field. It is therefore an honour for us to support the construction of the new Children's", said Erik Ryan, Senior Vice-President, Communications and External Relations, Rio Tinto Alcan.

The 2010 Awards of Excellence recipients are:

Dr. Jean-Pierre Farmer, winner of the Leadership Award of Excellence, sponsored by Pfizer; Dr. Jean-Martin Laberge winner of the Medical Award of excellence, sponsored by Groupe Jean Coutu; Dr. Janusz Rak winner of the Research Award of excellence, sponsored by Aldo; Sophie Baillargeon, winner of the Nursing Award of Excellence, sponsored by RBC; Evelyne Pytka, winner of the Professional Staff Award of Excellence, sponsored by Scotiabank; Guylaine Gamache, winner of the Administrative and Clinical Support Staff, sponsored by Shire; Leonard Johnston, winner of the Technical Support Award of Excellence, sponsored by Bell; Marianna Simeone, winner of the Community Leadership Award of Excellence, sponsored by Saputo; Esther Scriver, winner of the Volunteer award of Excellence, sponsored by Rio Tinto Alcan; and Jake Shtern, 12 years old, winner of the Nicolas W. Matossian Junior Community Award, sponsored by TD Financial Group.

    
    About The Montreal Children's Hospital and its Foundation
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The Montreal Children's Hospital is the pediatric teaching hospital of the McGill University Health Centre and is affiliated with McGill University. The Children's is a leader in providing a broad spectrum of highly specialized care to newborns, children, and adolescents from across Quebec. In 2006, The Children's Foundation (http://www.childrenfoundation.com/) launched The Best Care for Children campaign with a goal to raise $100 million to build the new Montreal Children's Hospital, of which construction will begin in summer 2010.

For further information: Danielle Gabrielle Roy, Director of Communications, The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation, [phone] ext. 2923