For Immediate Release
October 2, 2007

John Baird And Ottawa Gala Present $35,000 to OCRI School Breakfast Program

(Ottawa) - John Baird, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean and Honourary Chair of the Ottawa Gala, presented a cheque for $35,000 to the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) School Breakfast Program on behalf of the Ottawa Gala. The funds were part of the proceeds from the Ottawa Gala event held in April.

Mr. Baird, alongside representatives from the Fund for a New Generation, spent the morning serving breakfast to students at Grant Alternative School in Ottawa.  The breakfast program offers a healthy start to the day for 8,500 Ottawa children each year.

“OCRI’s School Breakfast Program makes a difference in Ottawa. In my riding alone there are 18 schools that benefit from this outstanding program," said Mr. Baird. “I applaud the Fund for a New Generation for their efforts to improve the future of our children in Ottawa.”

"Generous donations like the one presented here today by the Fund for a New Generation help us to continue our efforts to ensure all Ottawa schoolchildren start the day with the same advantages,” said Jeffrey Dale, President of OCRI. "We know that a nutritious breakfast helps improves concentration, behaviour and self-esteem in children. Proper nutrition helps children learn and the OCRI School Breakfast Program is happy to be able to continue contributing to Ottawa’s future."

The Ottawa Gala receives tremendous support from Ottawa’s business community. TELUS was the Platinum sponsor of the 2007 Ottawa Gala. “I’m encouraged by the continued partnership between Ottawa's young professionals and members of the business community,” says Sarah Lawley, Co-Chair of the Fund for a New Generation.

Each year, the Fund for a New Generation —a volunteer group of young professionals—organizes the Ottawa Gala, a charitable black-tie event attracting many of the capital’s young leaders. Since 1993, the Fund for a New Generation has raised over $450,000 for various children-at-risk initiatives. This year marked the Gala’s 15th anniversary.

PHOTO: John Baird, MP (Ottawa West-Nepean) and members of the Fund for a New Generation present the $35,000, the proceeds of the Ottawa Gala, to the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation (OCRI) School Breakfast Program and members of the Grant Alternative School community.

Further information:
Office of John Baird, MP                                                         
Ottawa West-Nepean
613-996-0984