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For immediate release

June 14, 2012

Sixth Annual BASKETS WITH PANACHE! Raises $48,527

OTTAWA, June 14 2012 – A crowd of 173 guests gathered at the Canada Agriculture Museum (CAgM) Wednesday for the BASKETS WITH PANACHE! event, and raised $48,527 dollars to provide underprivileged or specially-challenged children with an unforgettable hands-on farm experience through the museum’s educational programs and summer day camps.

“Far too often, children in our community do not have the financial resources to attend the Museum’s educational school programs or day camps,” says Wally Parsons, Chair of the BASKETS WITH PANACHE! planning committee. “BASKETS WITH PANACHE! will enable children from all walks of life to take part in these programs, helping them to see for themselves where our food comes from, along with the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.”

In its first six years, the event has raised over $224,000, which will translate into 15,500 children having the opportunity to participate in exciting educational experiences. Taking place in a heritage barn at the CAgM, BASKETS WITH PANACHE! event features the lively setting of a traditional country fair. The fundraiser includes the live and silent auction of many one-of-a kind themed gift baskets created by community leaders and local organizations. Guests were also treated to gourmet foods by Thyme & Again Creative Catering and award-winning wines from Prince Edward County, along with celebrity auctioneer Stuntman Stu of local radio station Magic 100, and emcee Angie Poirier.

“It is very important for us to make our museum experiences accessible to as many children as possible regardless of their financial situation or physical challenges,” says Denise Amyot, CEO of the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation. “Our goal is to have every child leave the museum with a better understanding of the essential role that agriculture plays every time they eat, drink or even get dressed. We also want to acknowledge the important role our Gold Sponsor, the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, has played to ensure the event’s success.”

“By sharing this knowledge with children we help them develop life skills that will inform nutritional choices and potential career paths in the future. The Museum is grateful to all those who have generously donated their time, money and auction items to make BASKETS WITH PANACHE! such an ongoing success,” says Kerry-Leigh Burchill, Director General of the CAgM.

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General information

For more information, please visit our Baskets with Panache! page.

Media contact:

Kelly Ray
613-998-5342

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