Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation announces the Change for Kids grand prize winner

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation announces the Change for Kids grand prize winner

December 11, 2012 - TORONTO, ON - Halloween may have wrapped up on October 31, but the best treats were announced on November 23. Stephanie Alejandro of Scarborough, Ontario won the grand prize draw in Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation's Change for Kids program. More than 102,000 Change for Kids coins were activated online, and Stephanie held the winning one. Stephanie and her family will spend a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge with nine other families of her choice!

This Halloween marked the first year of Holland Bloorview Foundation's exciting Change for Kids Halloween program, which is all about celebrating Halloween while giving trick-or-treaters the chance to help kids with disabilities. Toronto-based Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is a global leader in care, research and education for children with disabilities and their families.

This Halloween, Holland Bloorview's Change for Kids coins were favoured treats for trick-or-treaters. Adults purchased coin cards from Scotiabank branches in the GTA and through other distribution partners such as Spirit Halloween, Costco, Toronto Star and Toys"R"Us. Each coin contained a unique PIN code for kids and their parents to enter online for a chance to win amazing prizes. Stephanie Alejandro received her winning coin from her mother, who bought a Change for Kid coin card at Scotiabank. As luck would have it, the Alejandro family was supporting a cause dear to Stephanie's heart. Stephanie is studying nursing at Ryerson University and plans to work with children with disabilities when she graduates.

"I've never won anything this big before, and I want to thank Holland Bloorview Foundation for this amazing prize," says Stephanie. "The cause is really important to me. I believe that children with disabilities should be given opportunities to maximize their potential and dreams."

In addition to the Grand Prize, 70 participants won final draw prizes that included one-night stays at Great Wolf Lodge, Cineplex movie tickets and $1,000 RESPs from Scotiabank. More than 500 participants also won Toys"R"Us instant prizes. Kids with disabilities were also winners. Every time a new PIN code was entered, Scotiabank donated $5 to Holland Bloorview.

Change for Kids supports Holland Bloorview's highest priority needs: life changing treatments and therapies for kids with autism, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy and other physical and developmental disabilities, and programs like arts, music, life skills and respite care.

"We congratulate Stephanie and other winners and thank everyone who took part in Change for Kids," says Tracey Bailey, President and CEO of Holland Bloorview Foundation. "Your support is helping us change the world for kids with disabilities. This year the Change for Kids coin card program raised over $300,000. We are grateful to our many partners who helped make Change for Kids a great success and especially our founding sponsors Scotiabank, Citytv and Great Wolf Lodge. We can't wait for Halloween to come around again!"

For more information, please visit: changeforkids.ca

About Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation raises funds in the community for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Holland Bloorview is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital. The hospital pioneers treatments, technologies, therapies and real-world programs that give children with disabilities the tools to participate fully in life. Learn more at www.hollandbloorviewfoundation.ca

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