Hedge Funds Care / Help for Children Canada Gala Raises Nearly C$200,000 for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Well over 200 Canadian hedge fund and financial services industry professionals and supporters gathered at the Spoke Club in Toronto November 4 for the 11^th annual "Open Your Hearts to the Children Gala."

The special fundraising evening organized by Hedge Funds Care / Help for Children Canada (HFCC) raised nearly C$200,000 for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. This brings the amount the annual event has raised to date to more than C$1.7 million. The funds raised are allocated to local charities and organizations that focus on child abuse prevention and treatment.

"Once again the hedge fund and broader financial services industry in Canada showed its true philanthropic colours – raising both money and awareness for this very important and unfortunately often-overlooked cause," said HFCC President and Director Corey Goldman. "The dollars raised continue to allow us to fund programs and research that otherwise wouldn't be able to operate."

All of the funds raised through the Hedge Funds Care Gala are distributed through grants to local, community-based organizations devoted to preventing child abuse. This is accomplished through education, prevention, intervention, research, advocacy and training programs.

Attendees were treated to premium Italian beer courtesy of sponsor Peroni, as well as customized culinary creations from renowned Spoke Club in-house Chef Ren Mercer. Polar Securities, one of the gala sponsors, was presented with the annual "Award for Caring" for its consistent support to HFCC over the years.

The 2013 grant recipients were Native Family and Child Service, Child Development Institute, Kids Help Phone and Boost. To date more than 44 grants have been awarded to organizations across the country.

Sara Yarmand of Canada Pension Plan Investment Board who, along with Michelle Peng of Front Street Capital and Laura Reid of KPMG served as this year's event co-Chairs, acknowledged the hedge fund community's "overwhelming response to the gala and the cause it supports."

They also expressed gratitude for the generous support of the Committee of Hearts as well as the Gala sponsors, including Arrow Capital Management, CIBC, Citco Canada, Deloitte Canada, Picton Mahoney Asset Management, Scotia Capital, Sprott Asset Management, TD Securities, and many others."

About Hedge Funds Care

Hedge Funds Care / Help for Children Canada was established in 2004 as a way for the Canadian hedge fund community to give back to organizations that provide prevention services to children and families who are at risk of abuse and/or neglect, and treatment to children who have been victims of abuse.

Hedge Funds Care Canada is part of a global alliance that began 16 years ago in New York and has grown into an international nonprofit organization. It has branches in 13 major cities in Canada, the United States, the Cayman Islands, and the United Kingdom, Ireland and Hong Kong, funds more than 100 community organizations worldwide and distributes approximately $3.5 million in grants annually. Hedge Funds Care Canada alone has granted over $1.25 million through 44 grants since its inception.

Hedge Funds Care is proud to be the only business group solely devoted to combating child abuse, and since its founding has made a powerful contribution to saving children. Because of the shame associated with child abuse, it remains a dramatically under-resourced and rarely discussed problem.

For additional information please visit www.HFC.org.

SOURCE: Hedge Funds Care Canada