NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE ANNOUNCES 2014 SHARE THE SPIRIT PROGRAM FOR DESERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The National Arts Centre (NAC), with the help of Presenting Partner Sun Life Financial and generous partners and donors, is bringing the magic of live performing arts this holiday season and throughout the year to hundreds of deserving children and their families in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.

This is the sixth year for _ Share the Spirit _ , an initiative aimed at families who, for economic or health reasons, may not have the opportunity to enjoy live performances at the NAC. _ Share the Spirit _ will enable them to attend performances of holiday classics such as Handel’s _ Messiah, The Nutcracker, _ the kinderconcert _ The World for Christmas, _ _ Alice Through the Looking Glass _ as well as A Matt Dusk Christmas with the NAC Orchestra and other wonderful productions throughout the NAC’s entire performance season – for free.

Ticket recipients will be chosen by the NAC’s community partners including Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, Candlelighters, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation, Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa, Community Living Renfrew County South, Odawa Native Friendship Centre, the Ottawa Food Bank, the Snowsuit Fund, Tamir Foundation, United Way and the YMCA-YWCA of the National Capital Region.

With the leadership support of ** Presenting Sponsor Sun Life Financial ** , the NAC was able to extend _ Share the Spirit _ throughout the entire performance season providing more than 2,000 complimentary tickets to children and their family members through community partners to enjoy exceptional performances live on the stages of the NAC!

“ _ Share the Spirit _ has touched so many hearts in 2013.” said Jayne Watson, CEO of the NAC Foundation. “We’re proud of the success of the program over these last five years and hope to reach even more deserving families this holiday season and throughout the entire year.

“Sun Life is proud to once again team up with the National Arts Centre Foundation as the presenting sponsor of the _ Share the Spirit _ program,” said Paul Joliat, Sun Life Financial’s Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy & Sponsorships."  At Sun Life we believe that arts and culture should be celebrated and accessible to everyone. Through our _ Making the Arts More Accessible

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_ program and our partnership with the National Arts Centre Foundation, we are able to offer meaningful and inspiring experiences to deserving children and their families this holiday season.” _ Share the Spirit _ is made possible through the support of Presenting Partner ** Sun Life Financial ** , Major Partner ** Trinity Development Group ** , and Supporting Partners ** Glenview Management Limited, St Laurent Volvo and The Honourable John Manley, P.C. O.C. & Mrs. Judith Manley ** as well as other donors who have contributed to _ Share the Spirit _ through the NAC Foundation’s Donors’ Circle.