Toronto Boys and Girls Club member wins the 15th annual Microsoft Canada Holiday Greeting Card Competition
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 20, 2011 – The holiday season is filled with love, laughter and joy – and that’s especially true for children. With that in mind, Microsoft Canada today unveiled the art of its 15th annual Holiday Greeting Card Competition, drawn by nine-year-old Maggie Yang, a member of the Eastview (Toronto) Boys and Girls Club/Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre.
Chosen from hundreds of submissions, Microsoft Canada will use Maggie’s hand-drawn holiday image as the company's 2011 electronic holiday greeting to its employees, technology partners, vendors and more.
Maggie, who has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club since 2007, is an aspiring artist who participates in the Saturday Arts and Children Dance Program.
“My inspiration for the drawing was my family and friends playing outside. I thought of all the activities I did in the winter last year like sledding, making igloos, snowboarding, and making snow angels,” says Maggie. “I am really excited that my picture now gets to be on the Microsoft greeting card.”
As a part of its long-standing commitment to inspire and empower youth creativity, Microsoft Canada is celebrating its 15th year in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and its network of 104 clubs across the country. Together they provide programs in digital media and the arts, as well as digital game development and sports.
“Maggie is so creative, and she has certainly made everyone at Eastview quite proud,” says Pam Jolliffe, President and CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “This contest encourages youth to be creative while developing their technical skills, which will help them in the future as they enter the work world. Microsoft Canada’s ongoing commitment to Boys and Girls Clubs and to encouraging creativity in Canadian youth in general, is an inspiration.”
The annual competition has allowed more than 170,000 young people to dream big.
“We support many unique initiatives with Boys and Girls Clubs, and each year we sort through hundreds of holiday card entries from inspired boys and girls across the country. This competition is a wonderful way to see Microsoft’s partnership with this important organization come to life,” says Michael Eisen, Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft Canada. “Maggie’s artwork truly celebrates what we all love about the holiday season, and we are proud to send this holiday card out to our friends, family, customers, partners and employees across Canada and beyond.”
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada will also be sending the card out to its contacts.
As the winner of the competition, Maggie will receive a new computer packed with Microsoft software and a colour printer. In addition to Maggie’s prizes and her featured artwork, Microsoft Canada presented the Eastview (Toronto) Boys and Girls Club with $1,000.
To view a video featuring Maggie and the Eastview (Toronto) Boys and Girls Club, please visit: http://bit.ly/sHHgiX.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT"), the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has nine regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software – any time, any place and on any device. For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit www.microsoft.ca.
About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a leading non-profit organization providing programs that support the healthy physical, educational and social development of more than 200,000 children, youth and their families each year. In 700 community locations across Canada, Boys and Girls Clubs offer opportunities, after school and at other critical times when children are not in school, to develop healthy behaviours, academic success, positive relationships, and life and leadership skills.
Most Clubs also provide nutritious snacks and meals and many offer emergency shelter, family support programs and other help to children, youth and families in need. Boys and Girls Clubs have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential for over 100 years. To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.
For further information:
Isabelle Mise
on behalf of Microsoft Canada
416-644-2293
imise@highroad.com
