French Ontario mobilizes in solidarity with the Horn of Africa

12/08/2011

From August 11 to October 16,  2011, GroupeMédia TFO will be proudly partnering with two of Ontario’s most important bilingual institutions—the University of Ottawa and Glendon College of York University—in a campaign to raise funds within the Franco-Ontarian community to help the 12 million people suffering from famine in the Horn of Africa as the result of the worst drought in 60 years.

As Glenn O’Farrell, President and CEO of GroupeMédia TFO, puts it: “We feel personally  concerned by this tragic food crisis that has struck the people of the Horn of Africa. This fundraising campaign is also a gesture of solidarity with French-speaking Ethiopians and Somalis living in Ontario. GroupeMédia TFO has a social responsibility to contribute to the cohesion and development of the greater Francophone community. It is both a privilege and the most rewarding possible mission to provide our support to the members of this community who so urgently need us today.”

Starting today, GroupeMédia TFO will be broadcasting public service announcements on TFO television to raise public awareness of the food crisis in the Horn of Africa and solicit donations from the Francophone community in response to this tragedy.

In a gesture of solidarity, the University of Ottawa and Glendon College have joined in this urgent fundraising effort and will start holding fundraising activities on both of their campuses as soon as the new academic year begins.

In his announcement on the subject, University of Ottawa President Allan Rock stated: “The University of Ottawa recognizes the courage of the Somali people and is determined to help the members of its community who are living through such difficult times. The University of Ottawa community is proud to join in TFO’s fundraising efforts.”

In the words of Kenneth McRoberts, Principal of Glendon College, “Never has there been a greater need for humanitarian aid than there is today. Thanks to GroupeMédia TFO’s leadership, the Francophone community will be able to respond to this crisis immediately and help put an end to this global calamity. Glendon College is determined to play an active role in this critically important humanitarian effort.”

UNICEF Canada and the five international emergency humanitarian assistance organizations making up Canada’s Humanitarian Coalition—CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada— have offered to collect the donations made by the Franco-Ontarian community in response to this campaign. All six organizations salute the efforts of the Franco-Ontarian community in this urgent, essential effort.