Articles

Grand ticket giveaway offers help to families in need

LONDON, ONTARIO – December 19, 2011 – The first 100 people to line up for the 1 p.m. matinee in front of The Grand Theatre on December 23 with non-perishable food items will receive a ticket to the matinee performance of Cinderella.

The Grand Theatre will give away 100 tickets to the matinee in exchange for non-perishable food items in support of the Business Cares food drive, an initiative of local businesses collecting food in support of families in need this holiday season via the London Food Bank.

The Grand Theatre is generously supported by our city and we are very happy to pay it forward by helping to support the Business Cares food drive,” Deb Harvey, Executive Director of The Grand Theatre says. “We are always looking for opportunities to make a positive contribution to our community and this is a perfect match for us. 100 people will feel good making food donations and getting to see Cinderella and other families will have some worries lifted when Business Cares delivers the food collected and they will know that others care.”

Each year The Grand gives away close to 1,200 tickets worth more than $50,000 to agencies and groups that support low-income Londoners.

More than 300 London businesses and organizations are currently collecting donations for the 12th annual Business Cares food drive, hoping to break last year’s collection of 228,000 pounds. Food collected during the drive, which runs until the end of December, will help more than 25 social agencies through the London Food Bank. Daily Bread, The Salvation Army, school breakfast programs, the London Boys and Girls Supper Club, Youth Action Centre, Glen Cairn Resource Centre, Mission Service, Unity Project and Women’s Community Centre.

Currently about 3,200 families a month in London are also receiving assistance from the London Food Bank, up 5 per cent since the beginning of the year. The London Food Bank has been helping people since 1986 and provides emergency food to over 30,000 families and 72,000 individuals each year. Last year the London Food Bank helped more than 2,500 families with over $2 million worth of food distributed.

CINDERELLA
Dream and the impossible becomes possible with Cinderella at The Grand. The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic comes magically to life for young and old alike this holiday season. Take a romantic adventure! Musical favorites include “The Prince is Giving a Ball”, “In My Own Little Corner”, “Impossible”. This magical tale has been extended until January 7, 2012 with seven extra performances due to overwhelming success.

THE GRAND THEATRE
The Grand Theatre is a cultural icon in London, Ontario and is recognized nationally as a cultural leader. The Grand is committed to producing some of the best professional live theatre in Canada and to enriching, engaging, entertaining and transforming the lives of members of its community. With its MainStage, UnderGrand and Theatre for Young Audiences performances, the theatre takes great pride in providing world-class entertainment to London and Southwestern Ontario residents each season from September to May.