Halifax, NS (January 19, 2021) – The IWK Foundation is thrilled to announce that the IWK Telethon for Children on CTV will be back in 2021, celebrating its 37th year. This time-honoured annual fundraiser in support of the IWK will broadcast live from the CTV Atlantic studios in Halifax on Sunday, June 6, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
“Cancelling our 2020 IWK Telethon last year was one of the toughest decisions our organization has ever had to make, but it was the right thing to do at that time,” says Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, IWK Foundation. “Our team is working closely with our partners at CTV to bring the 2021 broadcast to life in an innovative, virtual and safe way as we continue the important tradition of recognizing the incredible generosity of donors throughout the Maritimes.”
The Telethon broadcast will continue to represent and celebrate the power of the Maritime community coming together in support of the IWK, which is why this beloved event has been so successful over the last 36 years. Although there will not be the traditional remote broadcast locations at the IWK in Halifax or in Saint John, Charlottetown and Sydney, through our new reality of virtual platforms, the Telethon will continue to connect Maritimers from every corner of our region.
“These last several months have been unlike anything we have experienced before. Our world has changed. Our history has changed. Our community looks and feels different than it once did. But what hasn’t changed, and what won’t ever change, is that our women and our children need the IWK and they need it to remain exceptional,” says Gillivan. “That’s what drives us every day in the work we do to share the story of IWK patients and their families while raising vital funds and that’s why we are so grateful to CTV for helping us re-imagine our Telethon despite the ongoing pandemic.”
“Telethon is a tradition for our CTV Atlantic family so we’re happy to be able to partner again with the IWK Foundation to make it happen in 2021,” says Trent McGrath, Vice-President and General Manager, CTV Atlantic. “With COVID-19 in mind, we’re working hard to ensure the safety of all involved while delivering a show that highlights the life-changing work done by IWK Health and the families who continue to inspire us.”
Since 1996, CTV Atlantic has been the broadcast partner of the IWK Telethon for Children helping to raise awareness and much needed funds in support of the IWK. Funds raised for this year’s IWK Telethon will support urgent priorities and opportunities at the IWK including equipment, education, research and innovation.
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About the IWK Foundation
The IWK Foundation is a champion of excellence in women's and children's health and medicine and works in partnership with IWK Health to support their vision of providing quality care to women, children, youth and families in the Maritime Provinces and beyond. Our donors are passionately committed to making a difference for Maritime families, contributing more than $13 million in support of the most urgent care priorities at the IWK last year. Funds raised also support the IWK's global leadership in research and knowledge sharing, which in turn improves lives worldwide. Visit www.iwkfoundation.org for more information.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Kelly Duggan
Advisor, Stakeholder Relations & Public Affairs
IWK Foundation
c: 902-220-8029
kelly.duggan@iwk.nshealth.ca