Foundation staff, local media and military reservists lead by example

London, Ont. - For six years now, the staff at London Health Sciences Foundation has been helping make the holiday season a bit brighter for children in the community. Yesterday, LHSF President & CEO Dan Ross once again helped deliver toys donated by foundation staff to the Bell Media radio studios on Wellington Road.

Bell Media is raising awareness of and collecting donations for their Toy Mountain in support of the Toys for Tots Christmas toy drive. Toys for Tots is conducted every year by military reservists in London and Stratford to ensure children-in-need have something under the tree on Christmas morning. This year's goal is to provide gifts for more than 3,000 children.

While at the studios, AM 1290 CJBK London @ Large afternoon show host Al Coombs invited Ross on-air to chat about giving during the holidays.

In the interview, Ross said that, "At this time of year, we should join hands and help our community. It doesn't matter what the cause is, choose your favorite cause. Philanthropy and charity is very important, especially for those who are less fortunate than we are."

Ross also shared that he is proud of foundation staff, in not only making a difference through their efforts in fundraising for the hospital, but also because they lead by example.

"For the past three years in our employee giving campaign, we have had 100 per cent participation," he said, adding that foundation employees also contribute to food and mitten drives held by London Health Sciences Centre.

Ross went on to praise donors to LHSF for making a difference for patients and families at the hospital who are facing some of the most difficult times in their lives, as well as applauding local reservists and Bell Media for their outstanding efforts in reaching out to the community with Toy Mountain and Toys for Tots. He noted that pitching in and helping is really what makes a community and that giving and volunteering is even more important this year since many in the region's manufacturing and other sectors are facing difficult times.

You can hear a podcast of the full interview here.

The toys from LHSF staff were very much appreciated - and needed. Coombs says that Toy Mountain is still looking for donations to meet this year's demand. To learn more about Toy Mountain for Toys for Tots, including a list of drop off locations, please visit the 1290 CJBK website.