Air Canada Foundation Continues to Support the 2018 Rally for Kids

Over October 26 and 27th I had the opportunity to follow along with the Air Canada Foundation during the 2018 Rally for Kids in support of the Pinball Clemons Foundation. I not only got to follow along as their team completed the Rally for Kids but also got to see their behind-the-scenes work in order to make the event a smashing success.

2018 Rally for Kids

On Friday evening, all the 23 teams that raised over $25,000 got together at the Celebrity Draft party, an event where each team got to choose their very own celebrity navigator. After some schmoozing and speeches, and a last minute trade with another team (in exchange for a pair of tickets for the cause!) Team Air Canada Foundation ended up with their top choice, Jerome “JYD” Williams. A man with a big heart who is already very much involved in causes that support youth.

Team Air Canada Foundation was comprised of Pilot Rohit Dhamija, celebrity navigator Jerome Williams, and three young ladies participating in the Pinball Clemons Foundation’s programs: Brenda, Rachel and Samantha. As a team, they raced through the city completing pitstop challenges.

Air Canada Foundation Pit Stop

It was only fitting that Air Canada’s pit stop was located in an airplane hanger and participants spent their time working as a team to solve challenges and collect clues.

Manned by over 40+ Air Canada employees and Air Canada Foundation ambassadors the teams were tasked in airline-related challenges that included transferring luggage in a bin which would in real life to be loaded onboard an aircraft, matching customer needs to the airline codes that represented them, escaping a 321, matching vintage Air Canada uniforms to the perfect year they were worn and of course, a flight deck checklist.

The whole experience was one that most people don’t get to experience in a lifetime and chances are that most participants will be talking about it for years to come!

Gala Dinner

The weekend was full of so much fun and positive energy and Pinball Clemons really managed to corral the crowds during the Gala Dinner to keep on giving. 15-20 minutes before the auction even started, attendees (mostly from the Toronto community) managed to raise over $200,000 to send 20 kids to programs led by the Pinball Foundation. An amazing achievement!

The fun and generosity didn’t end there though. Participants also bid on prizes such as days on set with Kim Coates and Djimon Hounsou — these sold not once but twice and Air Canada added extra incentive into the pot by donating pairs of Business class airline tickets to make it happen.

Altogether the Rally for Kids raised nearly 1 million dollars to support the Pinball Clemons Foundation to help marginalized local youth break through the barriers placed in front of them. For more information on Air Canada’s participation please head on over here.

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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