Tsunami Children Relief

OTTAWA, Ontario, January 14, 2005 – Rogers Sportsnet, on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), will be airing a PSA on Saturday, January 15, 2005 in request of donations for tsunami relief. The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Canada, Boyd McBride states: “It is wonderful to see how organizations of all kinds have mobilized to respond to the desperate situation in South Asia. Rogers Sportsnet and the Canadian Soccer Association have generously provided an opportunity to inform Canadians of the scale of the disaster, and given them a way to help. The Canadian Soccer Association has been a great supporter of SOS Children’s Villages Canada for many years, but this initiative has taken that support to a new level.”

OTTAWA, Ontario, January 14, 2005 – Rogers Sportsnet, on behalf of SOS Children’s Villages Canada and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), will be airing a PSA on Saturday, January 15, 2005 in request of donations for tsunami relief.

The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Canada, Boyd McBride states: “It is wonderful to see how organizations of all kinds have mobilized to respond to the desperate situation in South Asia. Rogers Sportsnet and the Canadian Soccer Association have generously provided an opportunity to inform Canadians of the scale of the disaster, and given them a way to help. The Canadian Soccer Association has been a great supporter of SOS Children’s Villages Canada for many years, but this initiative has taken that support to a new level.”

As a result of South East Asia’s devastating tsunami, tens of thousands of children and their families have been left without a home, security or livelihood. SOS Children’s Villages (SOS), operating in the region since 1968, is providing emergency relief and has now put into operation an extensive long-term support campaign to safeguard these children. The Canadian Soccer Association, and Rogers Sportsnet are urging Canadians to support the SOS efforts.

The SOS Relief to Rebuilding Campaign will help children and their families reclaim their lives through massive reconstruction projects, family support, and child protection programs. Donors can choose to contribute to relief work in Sri Lanka, India, or wherever the need is greatest.

As part of the long-standing FIFA/SOS Children’s Villages partnership, CSA representative and Rogers Sportsnet analyst, Craig Forrest, will make the request for SOS support in the PSA, which starts Saturday, January 15th on Sportsnet. All, three partnering organizations encourage Canadians to support the tsunami relief.

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Donations to SOS Children’s Villages’ aid programs to tsunami victims in South East Asia can be made:
By phone at: 1-800-767-5111
Online at: www.soschildrensvillages.ca
By mail to: SOS Children’s Villages Canada
t 244 Rideau Street, Suite 200
t Ottawa, Ontario
t K1N 5Y3

For media inquiries contact:
Sheila Duggan
Communications Manager
SOS Children’s Villages Canada
s.duggan@soschildrensvillages.ca
(613) 232-3309 ext. 22