Media Releases

 

Sarah McLachlan joins growing list for David Foster Foundation Miracle Concert

April 26, 2012, Victoria, BC – With one month to go until the Miracle Weekend, David Foster is pleased to announce that his friend and Grammy Award-winning musician, Sarah McLachlan will be joining the already incredible group of performers at the 25th Anniversary Miracle Concert & Gala in Victoria, BC.

McLachlan joins previously announced performers Josh Groban, Kenny G, Ruben Studdard, Sinbad and The Canadian Tenors who will join David Foster on stage to perform throughout the evening. In addition, David Foster has confirmed that Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Alan Thicke will be in Victoria, BC to attend the Miracle Weekend.

“I am so excited to come home and share this amazing show with Victoria and to now have the amazing Sarah McLachlan – it makes it even better. She will be doing a few songs including a special duet with The Canadian Tenors,” said David Foster. “Sarah is known throughout the world for her amazing talents as a singer, composer and pianist. We are excited and honoured to have her join this once in a life time show.”

Tickets for the Saturday, May 26, 2012 Miracle Concert are still available for purchase through Select Your Tickets by calling the box office at 250-220-7777 or online through www.selectyourtickets.com. Prices range from $125 to $250 with all proceeds going to the David Foster Foundation.

Days In Wait launches for organ donor recipients in wait

TELUS announces $2M in funding to support the David Foster Foundation

April 18, 2012, Victoria, BC – The David Foster Foundation, in partnership with TELUS, today announced the launch of Days In Wait, an online portal dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of organ donation in Canada.

Days In Wait refers to the number of days a donor recipient has been waiting to receive a life-saving organ. Everyone is different and everyone has a different story to tell.

“We are so pleased to have TELUS on board with our foundation,” said David Foster, chairman and founder, David Foster Foundation. “TELUS’ dedication to the communities it serves is simply amazing. We are grateful to be working with a company that is truly making a difference in the lives of organ transplant recipients. Through the launch of Days in Wait, and our national organ donor awareness campaign, we hope to encourage more Canadians to register to become organ donors so less lives will be lost unnecessarily each year.”

This innovative online community at www.daysinwait.com, developed by renowned agency TAXI, will be a place where people can research information, ask questions and register to be an organ donor. The site will also enable Canadians touched by organ donation to share their stories of hope, support and inspiration.

“We are honoured to be extending our strong partnership with the David Foster Foundation by supporting this initiative that will raise awareness about the importance of organ donations,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. “Together, we are creating the circumstances to support the families and save the lives of children in need of organ transplants.”

In February 2011, the David Foster Foundation and TELUS embarked on a mission to help bring awareness and education around the critical shortage of organ donors in Canada. The creation of Days In Wait is part of that drive. From 2010 through to the end of 2013, TELUS, its team members and its agencies TAXI and Cossette, will have contributed more than $2 million in support of the David Foster Foundation, including $500,000 from TELUS for the marquee sponsorship of the David Foster Miracle Concert Weekend in Victoria, May 25-27.

Since 1986, the David Foster Foundation has assisted more than 700 Canadian families with children in need of major organ transplants and provided millions of dollars in direct family support. Despite these efforts, 346 Canadians died last year whilst waiting for a donor organ. We want to improve the outcomes for those who are fighting for their lives and ease the immense burden experienced by their families.

Canadians with an organ donation story are invited to share it at www.daysinwait.com. Together, we can create a powerful online community, featuring the diverse perspectives and experiences of past and hopeful transplant recipients, donors and family members.

Victoria, BC hotels launch packages for David Foster Foundation Miracle Concert weekend

Hotel and ticket packages now available for May 25 – 27 weekend

March 15, 2012, Victoria, BC – Several hotels in Victoria, BC are extending the invite to out-of-town visitors wishing to welcome David Foster and his many celebrity friends for the David Foster Foundation 25th Anniversary Miracle Concert on Saturday, May 26, 2012.

“We are very excited to invite everyone to Victoria on Saturday, May 26 to experience one of the biggest concert events the city has ever hosted,” said Rob Gialloreto, president & CEO of Tourism Victoria. “For one amazing weekend Victoria will roll out the red carpet to welcome David Foster home, along with his many high-profile friends, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the David Foster Foundation.”

Confirmed to perform are David Foster, Josh Groban, Ruben Studdard, Kenny G and The Canadian Tenors; more names will be added leading up to the star-studded event. Visitors arriving early can also participate in Foster Friday on May 25, 2012 – an all day radio-thon open to the public at CFAX 1070, in support of the foundation.

For visitors wishing to experience a once-in-a-lifetime concert and do their best celebrity sighting, many Victoria-area hotels are offering Miracle Packages. One and two-night packages range in price from $368 Cdn to $10,000 Cdn (based on double occupancy). Packages can be booked through the David Foster Foundation event website, www.davidfostermiracleconcert.com/packages.

David Foster announces TELUS as significant sponsor, tickets on sale March 1, 2012 and Josh Groban added to star-studded line up of entertainers

Feb. 23, 2012, Victoria, BC – The David Foster Foundation is pleased to announce that TELUS is now the marquee sponsor of the foundation’s May 25 – 27, 2012 Miracle Concert and Gala Weekend in Victoria as it celebrates its 25th anniversary year.

“TELUS is pleased to support the exceptional work being done by the David Foster Foundation and we are proud of their tireless efforts to assist organ recipient families at a time when it is needed most,” said Mel Cooper, Chair of the TELUS Victoria Community Board. “For 25 years, the David Foster Foundation has helped more than 700 families across Canada. Together, we will continue to support transplant recipients and their families and raise awareness of the importance of organ donation in Canada.”

In addition to the TELUS sponsorship announcement, David Foster, 16-time Grammy Award winner and chair of the foundation – via Skype – announced that concert single ticket sales for the 25th Anniversary Miracle Concert & Gala will go on sale one week from today on Thursday, March 1, 2012.

“I am so excited to be coming back home to Victoria-my hometown,” said Foster. “To be able to celebrate our 25th anniversary with the Victoria community who supported the foundation from the very beginning is a thrill for me.”

Foster announced Josh Groban, Kenny G and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard to the growing list of entertainers who will join him May 26, 2012 for the Miracle Concert at Save on Foods Memorial Centre. In August 2011, the Canadian Tenors were named as the first act on board for this once-in-a-lifetime concert.

Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 1 at noon through Select Your Tickets at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre box office, by phone at 250-220-7777, or online at www.selectyourtickets.com. Ticket prices range from $75, $125 and a limited number of $250 VIP seats and are subject to applicable taxes and service charges.

For those wishing to take part in the full weekend experience, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is offering Grand Opening Gala Packages, available for purchase for CDN $5,000 per person, based on double occupancy and a three-day, two-night stay. Weekend guests will be treated to a private Friday night concert in the David Foster Foundation Theatre, opportunities to mix, mingle and dine with celebrity guests, full complimentary access to all of the hotel’s amenities and attendance at a spectacular dinner with VIP seating for the David Foster Foundation 25th Anniversary Miracle Concert & Gala. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from these packages will go to the David Foster Foundation.