CP Has Heart helps raise $205,500 for the beautiful hearts at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute during the CFL regular season and playoffs

With Canadian Pacific (CP) at quarterback and the Canadian Football League (CFL) at receiver, Touchdowns for Heart has scored often and a total of $205,500 has been raised so far for the beautiful hearts at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI).

Funds from the campaign with the CFL, which will end after the 105^th Grey Cup, will support the largest expansion in the UOHI’s 40-year history and are part of the broader Beautiful Hearts initiative, which includes funding for the refurbishment of cardiac facilities that benefit patients at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). This summer, CHEO received $2 million from CP as a result of fundraising efforts as part of the2017 CP Women’s Open, which took place at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. 

“As a result of a total team effort, through our CP Has Heart initiative we have been successful in raising funds and awareness for heart health in the Ottawa valley,” said Martin Cej, CP Assistant Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications. “To celebrate Canada 150, we partnered with two Ottawa-based world-renowned hospitals that make a difference every day in the lives of Canadians – young and old – as they navigate the obstacles of cardiac issues.”

Through its sponsorship of the CFL, CP aims to make an impact for those adults that now require the services of the UOHI. During the CFL regular season, CP donated $1,000 for each home touchdown made by the Ottawa REDBLACKS; CP also donated $2,500 for each touchdown made by the home team during the divisional semi-finals, and $5,000 for home team touchdowns during the divisional finals, for a total of $75,000. An additional $130,500 was generated through fundraising initiatives carried out during the regular season by the UOHI, the CFL, and CP. CP will continue Touchdowns for Heart at the 105^th Grey Cup on November 26 by donating $10,000 for every touchdown scored by the Argonauts and Stampeders.

Adults like Olivia Hiddema, a cardiac patient who underwent open-heart surgery four days after being born and again when she was 20, will directly benefit from the UOHI’s new 145,000 square foot state-of-the-art clinical space expansion. This project will allow the Institute to continue to serve the cardiac care needs of Canadians, as the referral centre for hospitals through Ottawa and Eastern Ontario, Nunavut, and for many more patients from coast-to-coast who come to Ottawa for life-saving procedures.

“The Heart Institute is grateful to CP for stepping in to help us promote our fundraising efforts and to serve as a corporate leader through the CP Has Heart initiative,” said Jim Orban, President and CEO of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation “This $205,500 gift will go a long way towards helping the Heart Institute to serve the hearts in our community for many years to come.”

Fans are invited to join CP in showing their beautiful hearts during the 105^th Grey Cup Festival at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on November 23, 4 p.m. – 10 p.m., on November 24 and 25, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and on November 26, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Visit the free, family-friendly activities, complete your CP Has Heart passport and show your Beautiful Heart in support of the UOHI for a chance to win daily prizes and a 2017 Grey Cup VIP Experience.

Follow the action on Twitter and Instagram @CPhasHeart. Join the conversation with #BeautifulHearts and #Touchdowns4Heart. To donate today, please visit foundation.ottawaheart.ca or text the word HEART to 45678 to make a $5 donation.

Canadian Pacific is a transcontinental railway in Canada and the United States with direct links to eight major ports, including Vancouver and Montreal, providing North American customers a competitive rail service with access to key markets in every corner of the globe. CP is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpr.ca to see the rail advantages of CP.