Duracell Toy Fund urges Canadians to support children’s hospital playrooms

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Duracell is inviting Canadians to make this a season to truly remember by joining and sharing memorable moments on Duracell’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DuracellCanada. From November 1 to December 31, 2011, for every new “like" on Duracell Canada’s Facebook page, Duracell will donate $1CAD to the Duracell Toy Fund up to  a maximum amount of $25,000. All the money raised will be divided equally among thirteen participating Canadian paediatric hospitals across the country and will go toward buying or refurbishing children’s playroom toys.

“We know that Canadians’ generosity can really shine during the holidays, and we truly hope Canadians will rally behind our 2011 Peace of Mind Included campaign to help make a difference to children in need,” said Victoria Maybee, external relations manager for Duracell Canada. “Hundreds of thousands of children and their families spend time in Canadian hospitals every year, and together we can help make their stay a little brighter with working toys and games.”

For the fifth year in a row, Duracell will also be donating a year’s supply of batteries to power toys, games and hand-held devices in participating children’s hospitals in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John’s.

“The Child Life team at SickKids is grateful to again be a beneficiary of Duracell’s generosity through both the battery donation program and the new Toy Fund interactive fundraising campaign,” says Caron Irwin, Entertainment and Donations Coordinator, Child Life at SickKids. “These donations ensure we keep the most popular children’s toys and teen games and electronics powered throughout the year to help make kids’ hospital stays a little easier.”

While the hospitals will have enough batteries for all their new toys and games to get through the entire year, Duracell also wants to remind Canadians to stock up on batteries for their own peace of mind over the holidays, especially for battery-powered gifts to family and friends during the holiday season.

“There is so much going on during this time of year that the smaller details can easily get overlooked,” said Maybee. “Having a simple set of fresh batteries on hand can help give parents some peace of mind over the busy holidays, to avoid disappointing a child who receives a battery powered gift without batteries.”

Duracell suggests that families stock up on batteries of various sizes and cautions against removing the batteries from emergency devices such as smoke alarms and flashlights to use in gifts.