Annual Make-A-Wish® Canada fundraising campaign at IKEA stores gets underway


BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, July 3, 2012 - For the third consecutive year, IKEA Canada will offer its customers the opportunity to enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions by making a donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada. From now until September 30th, 2012, customers will have the opportunity to donate $1 to Make-A-Wish® at self-serve check outs at IKEA stores across Canada.

“Both IKEA and Make-A-Wish believe children are the most important people in the world, and we continue to welcome the opportunity to raise funds to better the lives of children living with life-threatening medical conditions,” says Kerri Molinaro, President of IKEA Canada.

Since the launch of this campaign in the summer of 2010, IKEA customers and co-workers have raised over $150,000 for Make-A-Wish. Make-A-Wish has used the donations to grant the wishes of 15 courageous children, like Armanii, who went on an once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Florida with his family where they visited SeaWorld and a fantasy theme park.

Each year in addition to the summer fundraising campaign, IKEA’s 11 stores partner with Make-A-Wish chapters across Canada to grant inspirational room makeovers and enhancements for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Since the partnership began in 2009, IKEA Canada and its co-workers have transformed the living spaces for 72 wish children and their families.

“IKEA stores, employees and customers are making an invaluable impact on our mission in communities across the country,” said Jennifer Ritter, CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. “As a result of IKEA’s outstanding support since 2009, we’ve been able to make magical moments and lasting memories possible for our courageous wish kids and their families. Strong supporters, like IKEA, makes our wish children believe anything is possible!”

IKEA’s partnership with Make-A-Wish Canada is the cornerstone of IKEA Canada’s Children’s Support Program that is dedicated to helping children in the communities that IKEA serves.