News Releases

Joins TELUS, WestJet teams as countdown begins for the September 27^th almost-sold-out event

CALGARY, Aug. 26, 2014 /CNW/ -

What: Grammy and Juno award winning producer David Foster will be in Calgary on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014 to provide an update on this year's David Foster & Friends Miracle Concert being held in Calgary on September 27, 2014. (www.davidfostermiracleconcert.com)   Proceeds will benefit the David Foster Foundation. 

Where:  WestJet Campus, 22 Aerial Place NE, Calgary (Visitor Parking available on west side of the campus building, look for white visitor parking signs. Please do not park on the road between the two buildings.)

When: 12:00 p.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, August 28, 2014 

Who: David Foster is a recipient of the Order of Canada, Officer of the Order of Canada, 50-time nominee and 16-time Grammy Award winner (including three for Producer of the Year), three-time Oscar nominee, Golden Globe winner, seven-time Juno Award winner, Emmy award winner and is honoured to have his star on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk(s) of Fame.

Foster launched the David Foster Foundation in his hometown of Victoria in 1986. Across Canada, the David Foster Foundation financially supports families for all non-medical expenses while their children are undergoing life-saving organ transplants. Every year, Foster chooses a Canadian city to host the David Foster & Friends Miracle Concert to raise awareness and funds for the foundation.  These gala events are legendary for the 'friends' who join Foster on stage and the live auction items that are literally out of this world experiences.

Also available for interviews will be:

• Gregg Saretsky, President and Chief Executive Officer, WestJet
• Andrea Goertz, Chief Communications  & Sustainability Officer, TELUS
• Mike Ravenhill, CEO, David Foster Foundation
• Curtis Keller - 5 years old, and his parents Alex & Amber.  Curtis has been waiting for a heart transplant since he was 3 years old and the David Foster Foundation has supported his family while they wait for an organ donor.  The Keller Family lives in Calgary.

Why: Calgary was chosen for the 2014 concert & gala thanks to the support of TELUS and WestJet, two long-standing national partners.

• Since 1986, the David Foster Foundation has assisted close to 1,000 Canadian families with children in need of major organ transplants and provided millions of dollars in direct family support.
• Thanks to its annual fundraising efforts and the generous support of national partners like TELUS, WestJet, AMJ Campbell, DeerFields Clinic, Schnitzer, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Hope Air, and Aird & Berlis LLP, families receive support for expenses incurred when travelling away from their homes to be with their child awaiting transplants, during transplant operations and post-operation recovery.
• The Foundation's financial commitment to families ranges from an average of $10,000 per year up to $100,000.
• The Foundation also promotes organ donor awareness and registration in both Canada and the United States.
• Currently there are more than 4500 Canadians waiting for life-saving transplants.   However, each year there are only 13 donors per one million people in Canada.
• 90 per cent of Canadians state they would donate their organs to those in need, yet less than 20 per cent of Canadians are registered as organ donors.
• One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people.
• In Alberta only 0.6 per cent of the population is registered as donors.
• For more information, visit www.davidfosterfoundation.com.

SOURCE WestJet