Statement made on 15 December 2009 by Senator Rod Zimmer
Hon. Rod A.A. Zimmer:
Honourable senators, I take this opportunity to inform you of a very successful Paralympic Foundation fundraising gala that was held on Tuesday, November 24, at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. This event was an elegant and intimate fundraising cocktail reception, which was hosted by the honorary chairs, Mr. Frank Stronach, chairman of the board of Magna International; the Honourable Belinda Stronach, P.C., executive vice-chairman of Magna International; and our Senator Joyce Fairbairn.
I am proud to announce that we raised almost $200,000, which was presented to the foundation that evening. These funds will go to support Canada's Paralympic team at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver to introduce Canadian children and youth with physical disabilities to the joy and freedom of grassroots sport.
Honourable senators, with my co-chair, Vim Kochar, I want to thank Frank and Belinda Stronach and Mr. Dennis Mills, president of Magna International Developments, for their outstanding corporate citizenship and for their sponsorships in addition to covering all the expenses for this special event and providing such a magnificent setting as the Magna Golf Club. In addition, I extend a special thank you to all the sponsors and donors for their generosity and the fundraising gala committee.
Finally, honourable senators, I pay special tribute to the Paralympic athletes for their attendance at the event, and we wish all of them the very best at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. We hope they will realize all of their dreams at the Olympics, for they are our true heroes. Good luck and God bless.