3/5/2005 Ottawa, CANADA: It might have been the rain or the push to find something special for Mom, but the SWAROVSKI Celebrates Mothers Fashion Show held at Bayshore Shopping Centre on Saturday, April 30 attracted a large audience and yielded big dividends for SOS Children's Villages Canada (SOS). Presented with support from Mexx and Melanie Lyne, the event, which showcased a wide variety of stunning jewelery and accessories from Swarovski, must have inspired both fashion sense and an urge to give. To mark the celebration, and to underscore its support of SOS Mothers around the world, Swarovski made a donation of $10,000 to SOS Children's Villages Canada.
The 40-minute show was hosted by CJOH senior reporter and anchor Anna-Karina Tabunar who was often joined at the podium by her two-year old daughter. An active mother of two, Ms.Tabunar volunteered her time to help promote the work of SOS. Describing the scope of the organization's operations in 134 countries, Ms. Tabunar mentioned the SOS facilities in the Philippines, where she was born. "In the Philippines alone, SOS has seven Children's Villages, six SOS youth homes, kindergartens, schools, social centres and one vocational training centre," she told her audience.
Brian Stott, Regional Manager, Eastern Region, Swarovski; Lynne Lenselink, Manager, Swarovski Gallery Store, Bayshore S
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Commenting on the large turnout, SOS Canada National Boyd McBride expressed his appreciation for the amount of time and work put in by organizers."We are overwhelmed by the generosity and support of everyone connected with this event -- audience, volunteers, organizers and, of course, our major sponsor, Swarovski," he said. "This very large and important donation is a powerful vote of confidence for the essential work we carry out in support of the world's most vulnerable children," he continued.
Lynne Lenselink, Manager of the Swarovski Gallery Store at Bayshore, and the key organizer of the event, also expressed her pleasure at the final total at the end of the day. "Swarovski is delighted to make a significant contribution to SOS Children's Villages, knowing the funds will be well spent on a very worthwhile cause," she said. "We believe that corporate responsibility includes making a commitment to the protection of children at risk around the world," she continued.