OHL Kitchener Rangers

Your Vote Counts for Head Strong

September 30, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Kitchener Rangers News Release


Help bring Head Strong $35,000 closer to helping Brain Injury survivors with their education costs. Zehr Insurance Brokers Ltd has nominated Head Strong as an idea in the Aviva Community Fund to receive $35,000 that will benefit the Brain Injury Association of Canada's Bursary Fund - assisting brain injury survivors with costs associated with post-secondary education.

Brain injury occurs suddenly, without warning. In an instant life is changed, forever. Canadian Hockey League defenseman Ben Fanelli knows this first hand. In October of 2009 Ben suffered a head injury that changed his life. Because of this Ben has realized the need for Brain Injury Awareness and funding. And that is why he teamed up with the Kitchener Rangers to start Head Strong; Fanelli 4 Brain Injury Awareness: a program designed to raise awareness about brain injuries and provide funds to various Brain Injury associations and programs.

Brain Injury awareness and program funding is close to home for Zehr Insurance Brokers Limited President John Zehr. His daughter Kelly, has an acquired brain injury as a result of an illness she suffered when she was younger. The Zehr Insurance family understands how disadvantaged brain injury victims can be when it comes to competing with life's opportunities. Kelly's mom, Dr. Laurie Sellers, a physician who works in the emergency room, sees the challenges brain injury victims live with on every shift. A brain injury is heart breaking. It can set a family back both emotionally and financially. This brain injury cause needs increased awareness and support. Kelly is pleased to help with this campaign to create possibilities for brain injury victims to develop meaningful careers and places in society through the scholarship awards this program will fund.

Since its launch in March 2011, Head Strong has experienced a tremendous amount of support. We hope this will continue as Head Strong looks to the Aviva Community Fund to assist the Brain Injury Association of Canada in their mission to provide educational bursaries to brain injury survivors.

It is the mandate of the Brain Injury Association of Canada to improve the quality of life for all Canadians affected by acquired Brain Injury and promote its prevention. In 2008 the BIAC (Brain Injury Association of Canada) created a bursary fund. The fund is managed and decided upon by a committee made up of three BIAC board members with specific background in awarding educational funding. The BIAC Bursary Program was intended to assist students living with an acquired brain injury to pursue educational opportunities in English or French post secondary institutions or apprenticeship/trades programs. Last year this program was unable to assist any of the applicants from across Canada as there was no funding available.

Through the Aviva Community Fund we hope to bring the BIAC Bursary Program back and make it better than ever.

The Aviva Community Fund donates $1 million dollars to multiple organizations annually. Head Strong has been entered by Zehr Insurance Brokers Ltd as an IDEA (nomination) in the Aviva Community Fund challenge to receive $35,000 for the BIAC Bursary Program. In order to receive funding Head Strong must receive enough votes to move forward to the final round of judging. There are three rounds of voting. The top ideas from each round will advance. Once in the finals a panel will score the top 30 ideas, rank them and start awarding funding.

The goal of $35,000 for the BIAC Bursary Program will provide 10 bursaries of $3,500 (English and/or French). This is an increase from the current two $2,000 bursaries (English and French) that are offered and provide the ability to be able to help a higher percentage of applicants who need help with their educational costs.

Be a Head Strong champion - VOTE and PROMOTE TODAY.

Voting for Round 1 begins on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at 12PM ET

Voting is easy and there are multiple ways you can do it.

1. http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf11102 - Register and vote for HEAD STRONG.

2. If you are a registered facebook member you can LIKE us on our Aviva Community Fund listing page. Your LIKE will count as your vote and will automatically share to your facebook wall for others to see. http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf11102

3. Visit http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ http://www.avivacommunityfund.org and search HEAD STRONG or ID is: ACF11102

4. Visit http://kitchenerrangers.com/head-strong-aviva-community-challenge www.kitchenerrangers.com or CLICK HERE

Important things to remember: You must register to vote. You only have to do this once. Each registered voter will receive up to 15 votes (note: you can only vote once a day for any given idea). If you need to search for Head Strong it is listed under the health category. Come back daily to vote. Promote our Head Strong idea to your friends, family members, coworkers and more. Use facebook, twitter and word of mouth to help keep Head Strong on top.

With your voting and promoting we can become a finalist for a $35,000 gift that will bring back the BIAC Bursary Program.

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