Donation will help keep BC families together when it matters most.

VANCOUVER, July 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Ronald McDonald House BC (RMH BC) celebrates an incredible $150,000 donation from CIBC. This generous gift to the RMH BC Capital Campaign has provided a comfortable living room and play space for seriously ill children and their families, as part of the new Ronald McDonald House BC which opened to families on July 7, 2014.

RMH, CIBC employees and families, as well as two special guests, CIBC Team Next athletes and para-swimming stars Danielle Kisser and Jean-Michel Lavallière celebrated the opening at a special reception at the new House, where they were able to see first-hand the magical home-away-from-home for sick children.

"CIBC is honored to support such an incredible organization that helps children and families in BC  facing some of the toughest challenges in their lives," says Mike Stevenson, Senior Vice-President & Region Head, BC & the Northern Territories, Retail Distribution, CIBC. "It's so important for families to be together when it matters most and we are thrilled that CIBC's donation is helping to make that possible."

Each year, thousands of families travel from communities across BC and the Yukon for their child's major medical treatment at BC Children's Hospital.  Families often have no place to stay, or cannot afford a hotel while their child is receiving treatment. Since 1983, Ronald McDonald House BC has given these families a safe, affordable place to stay and a community of support while they are far away from home.

The original RMH BC, located in Shaughnessy, accommodated 13 families at a time, and 400 families a year. "Unfortunately, the reality is that due to the demand, the original RMH BC had to turn away too many families  each month," says Gary Segal, Chair of the Ronald McDonald House BC Capital Campaign. "I want to thank our generous donors like CIBC and their employees who helped create this brand new House‎ that can now accommodate over 2,500 families annually."

Ronald McDonald House BC depends on community and corporate donations to keep BC and Yukon families together. Naming opportunities are still available. For more information, please visit www.rmhbc.ca.

About Ronald McDonald House® BC & Yukon

Ronald McDonald House British Columbia is a nurturing and magical home-away-from-home for sick children and their families where, together, their lives are enhanced through unconditional support, encouragement, friendship and love. More than just a place to stay, the House offers accommodation that is comfortable and safe for seriously ill children, and a community of other families who are experiencing similar situations. For more information, please visit www.rmhbc.ca.

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. With a strategic focus on Kids, Cures and Community, and employee commitment to causes, including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, the CIBC Children's Foundation and United Way, we are investing in the social and economic development of communities across the country. In 2013, CIBC contributed more than $41 million to 1,870 charitable and non-profit initiatives in over 430 communities. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com. 

SOURCE Ronald McDonald House British Columbia

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