Spare a little, help a lot: ALS Ontario to raise funds for people with ALS at LCBO stores

May 26, 2010 - PRLog -- Spare a little, help a lot: ALS Society of Ontario to raise funds for people with ALS at LCBO stores this June
A little change can make big change for someone living with ALS

Toronto – May 26, 2010:

A little change can go a long way.

Beginning June 1, the public can drop their spare change in coin boxes in more than 600 LCBO locations across Ontario and proceeds will benefit the ALS Society of Ontario. Donation boxes will be displayed at checkout counters until June 30. The campaign coincides with ALS Awareness Month, marked every June with fundraisers and awareness events nationwide.

ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal and rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease affecting more than 1,000 Ontarians and their families. Approximately one-third of people with ALS are under the age of 45. The average cost of equipment and care over this period is $130,000 per person with ALS.

The Society’s donation box features the Dyck family of Ontario.  Brian Dyck was diagnosed with ALS in November 2009.  Dyck, now 41, survived serving in the military for 14 years and 10 years in the Ottawa Police Department; however, he will not survive ALS.  He is pictured on the box with his 16-month-old daughter, Sophi, who will likely have limited recollection of her father as 80 per cent of those affected die within two to five years of diagnosis.  

“ALS is a devastating disease physically, emotionally and financially,” says ALS Society of Ontario President & CEO Maureen Sheahan.  “ALS is grateful for the opportunity and support we receive from LCBO, its employees and especially its customers to raise funds and awareness to assist people living with this disease, as well as their families and caregivers.  We need Ontario’s help to raise much-needed funds for families living with ALS, as many struggle to manage the costs of this disease.”

“We take our community involvement very seriously and are pleased to partner with the ALS Society of Ontario,” says LCBO President and CEO Bob Peter. “LCBO’s customers and staff always give generously to help their fellow Ontarians and we appreciate their contributions to these worthy causes.”

The ALS Society of Ontario is one of 26 provincial, as well as numerous local charities that will benefit from the LCBO’s province-wide donation box program in 2010. In 2009, LCBO raised a total of $4.2 million for charities through special programs and initiatives, of which $3.8 million was raised through in-store fundraising. In addition, LCBO’s annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1.41 billion in fiscal 2009-10, excluding taxes, supports a wide range of important government programs, services and priorities, including health care and education.

The ALS Society of Ontario thanks the public for its support when shopping at their local LCBO store during June.

The ALS Society of Ontario is a non-profit organization committed to providing equipment and support services to people with ALS and their families, as well as funding research into a cure or effective treatments. For more information, visit www.alsont.ca

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Media contacts:

Kathryn Dunmore
Communications Officer, ALS Society of Ontario
Tel: 905 248-2101 x213
E-mail: kathryn@alsont.ca

Stephanie Petroff
LCBO Senior Communications Consultant
Tel: 416 864-6792  F: 416 864-6850
E-mail: stephanie.petroff@lcbo.com

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ALS Ontario's mission is to facilitate access to the best possible support, care and treatment for those with ALS to ensure those affected by ALS in Ontario have what they require to live with dignity and choice; engage in advocacy and education.