Holiday Cookies for a Cause

Kelowna, BC, November 18– Tim Horton’s Holiday Smile Cookie week kicked off today, with 10 local restaurants choosing to support the JoeAnna’s House expansion project. From Nov. 18 to 24, 100 per cent of proceeds from each Smile Cookie sold around Kelowna will support JoeAnna’s House and Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.

Last year, Timmies guests helped raise $9.8 million through the inaugural Holiday Smile Cookie campaign. Kelowna locations alone raised over $17,000 for JoeAnna’s House.

“Our goal is to create a lasting, collective impact both within our community and beyond, which is why our team of local owners chose to support JoeAnna’s House,” said Dawn Fiacco, Franchise Owner of three Tim Hortons locations in Kelowna. “I can’t begin to imagine the challenges these families are facing, and we’re proud to help provide support during their most difficult times.”

JoeAnna’s House has been a home away from home for over 2,500 families while their loved ones receive care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). The home offers affordable, short-term accommodation right beside the hospital, but it has been operating with a constant waitlist. With the demand exceeding capacity, almost 1,000 families haven’t been able to get in. The KGH Foundation has set out to raise $5.3 million to expand the home and help more families facing significant challenges.

“This campaign has been bringing smiles and making a real difference for over 25 years,” says Lori Olsvik, Franchise Owner of four Tim Hortons locations in Kelowna. “This holiday season, we’re excited to support the expansion of JoeAnna’s House and help open it’s doors wider to even more families in need.”

As the leading referral hospital for up to 1 million residents in the BC interior, at any given time, one out of every four beds at KGH is occupied by someone outside the Central Okanagan. Every cookie sold will do its part to help make the expansion possible.

“I know I’ll be buying a few Holiday Smile Cookies to support JoeAnna’s House,” says Samantha Katzman, a guest at JoeAnna’s House from Summerland, BC. “We are so grateful for this beautiful home away from home, so close to the hospital, and for the incredibly kind, thoughtful and supportive staff and volunteers. Being able to stay at JoeAnna’s House is a bright spot in an otherwise difficult experience.”

“We are deeply grateful to be chosen as the charity partner for the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign in Kelowna,” says Darlene Haslock, Director of JoeAnna’s House. “These cookies not only bring joy and sweetness to our community, but they will help immensely with our expansion efforts. Thanks to the generosity of our local Tim Hortons restaurants and the community, we will be able to expand and help even more families during their most difficult times. We encourage everyone to spread joy and share Smile Cookies to support our expansion!”

New this year: Orders of six dozen cookies or more may qualify for delivery! Store owners Lori and Travis Olsvik are stepping up to personally deliver larges orders- reach out to olsviktimhortons@gmail.com.

To preorder batch(es) of Holiday Smile Cookies for your business, family, or friends, fill out the bulk order form. View local Tim Hortons locations that will be supporting JoeAnna’s House through the Holiday Smile Cookie Campaign here.

To learn more about the expansion project for JoeAnna’s House please visit www.joeannashouse.com/expansion.

Since 1978, the KGH Foundation has worked with a generous community to raise funds to support world-class healthcare close to home for a growing and diverse population in the interior of B.C. Today, the KGH Foundation is the lead fundraising organization for Kelowna General Hospital, JoeAnna’s House, and Central Okanagan Hospice House, while also fundraising for vital community health care programs.

 

Media Contact:

Jessie Billey

Marketing Manager                

KGH Foundation

p| 250-862-4300 ext. 27270

e| jessie.billey@interiorhealth.ca