Stephen Lewis, Dr. James Orbinski and Dr. Jane Philpott Launch Give a Day at the MaRS Centre

Canadians challenged to make a difference by giving one day’s pay to fight aids

Toronto, October 11, 2006 — What a difference a day can make! Stephen Lewis and Dr. James Orbinski will join Canadian community leaders to mark the launch of the Give a Day to World AIDS campaign. Give a Day supports organizations responding to the global AIDS pandemic, calling on individuals to give one day’s pay toward fighting the AIDS crisis. Stephen Lewis and Dr. James Orbinski will be joined by guest speakers and supporters from Canada’s legal, medical, business and education communities.

The Give a Day to World AIDS concept began when a group of doctors led by Dr. Jane Philpott at Markham Stouffville Hospital gave one day’s pay on World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2004. By 2005, eight hospitals were involved raising almost $100,000 to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa. This year, Give a Day is moving beyond the health sector to include lawyers, teachers, flight attendants, corporations and individuals who are donating one day’s pay to support the work of Dignitas International and the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

What: Give a Day to World AIDS Campaign Launch Reception
When Tuesday, October 17, 2006 from 9:30 – 10:30am
Where: MaRS Collaboration Centre Atrium, 101 College Street, Toronto
Who:

  • Mr. Stephen Lewis, Chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, U.N. Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and scholar-in-residence at McMaster University.
  • Dr. James Orbinski, President of Dignitas International; accepted 1999 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF/Doctors Without Borders).
  • Mr. John Ferguson, General Manager, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Dr. Jane Philpot, MD and Founder of Give a Day
  • Mr. Michael Fekete, Partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

Media are asked to register in advance by contacting Tiffany Bourré at The Idea Workshop at 416-504-3977 ext. 28. Refreshments will be served.

“ ‘Give a Day to World AIDS’ is a simple, yet powerful way to stand with colleagues to say that you care. Every Canadian could give a day’s pay – not out of pity, but out of a passion for justice.” -Jane Philpott, MD

About Dignitas International

Dignitas International is a Canadian medical humanitarian organization harnessing the power of community to fight AIDS and to dramatically increase access to life-saving treatment and prevention in areas overwhelmed by the pandemic. Dignitas International is saving lives with a groundbreaking, sustainable community-based care model to be replicated throughout the developing world.

About the Stephen Lewis Foundation

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) helps to ease the pain of HIV/AIDS in Africa at the grassroots level. SLF supports initiatives that provide care to women who are ill and struggling to survive; assists orphans and other AIDS affected children; supports heroic grandmothers who almost single-handedly care for their orphan grandchildren; and supports associations of people living with HIV/AIDS who courageously speak out against stigma and discrimination.

Contact

Tiffany Bourré
The Idea Workshop Limited
416-504-3977 ext. 28
tiffany@theideaworkshop.com

About MaRS

MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a large scale, mission driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario, focused on building Canada’s next generation of technology companies. MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care, information, communications and digital media technologies, cleantech, advanced materials and engineering, as well as innovative social purpose business.

For more information, contact:
Linda Quattrin
Director Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8104
lquattrin@marsdd.com