True Patriot Love Foundation Launches

TORONTO – Joined by prominent military, business and community leaders and military family members, Chair Shaun Francis today announced the launch of the True Patriot Love Foundation.

“The mission of True Patriot Love is to give all Canadians an opportunity to pay tribute to the quiet dedication of military families whose sacrifices they make on our behalf often go unnoticed,” said Shaun Francis, Chair. “When our soldiers serve in the name of freedom, their families make sacrifices in terms of separation, anxiety and loss.”

The organization, founded by corporate and community leaders, is dedicated to raising funds for programs to improve the well-being of members of the Canadian military and their families, and to celebrate their selfless service. The Foundation strives to help meet the needs of Canadian heroes serving at home and abroad, as well as the needs of the families who support them.

The Foundation’s signature event is the annual True Patriot Love Tribute Dinner, with the inaugural event taking place on the eve of Remembrance Day (November 10, 2009) at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. To date, the Foundation has raised approximately $300,000 towards its goal of $1.75 million+ for the Dinner. With over 1,500 guests in attendance including military family members, the program will feature political and military leaders as well as Canadian artists and entertainers.

The proceeds of this year’s Tribute Dinner will be dedicated to the Military Families Fund (MFF), established and championed by General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier when he was Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff. The purpose of the MFF is to quickly step in to assist military families faced with unforeseen and often urgent needs that have resulted from conditions of service, including rehabilitation, education, financial assistance in the case of injury or death, and urgent and extraordinary financial demands where the ability to provide family necessities is at risk.

The Honourary Chair of the Tribute Dinner is General (Ret’d) Rick Hillier and the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk is the Guest Speaker.

“I am impressed by your energy and dedication to make the True Patriot Love Gala a hallmark fundraiser for the Military Families Fund,” said General Walt Natynczyk. “Our families are the strength behind the uniform and we have made a promise to them that we will care for them. We will care for them and we will care for our wounded warriors.”

Many other great Canadians have lent their names to the event including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Elizabeth May.

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For further information please contact the following:

Ms. Bronwen Evans
Director, True Patriot Love Foundation
bronwenevans@truepatriotlovefoundation.com
416-350-8374

Karen Miller, Fundraising and Dinner Director at the Dinner Office at K.I.M. Inc.
kim.inc@rogers.com
416-224-9990
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