Alessia Cara & Duracell Power Holiday Smiles for Children's Miracle Network This Holiday Season

Multi-platinum recording artist / Singer-Songwriter Alessia Cara, is teaming up with Duracell this holiday season to help thousands of children spending the holidays in the hospital. Cara, who received a 2016 AMA nomination for New Artist of the Year, has partnered with the brand to encourage Canadians to power good and support a worthy cause.

Celebrating 10 years supporting children's hospitals across Canada, the Duracell "Powering Holiday Smiles and Imagination" program will donate a year's supply of batteries to children's hospitals across Canada to power the thousands of playroom toys and games. In addition, for every pack of Duracell batteries that Canadians purchase at Walmart in December 2016, Duracell will donate to Children's Miracle Network, with the goal to raise $150,000. To learn more about the campaign head to Duracell.com/CMN.

"I'm happy to join forces with Duracell and help celebrate the holidays with some very special kids," said Cara. "I spent some time at SickKids when I was younger, so this hits close to home. I'm glad that I can be here to give back a little, and support not only SickKids, but also Children's Miracle Network."

As part of the Duracell Powering Holiday Smiles and Imagination campaign, Cara performed at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto for families currently spending time at the hospital. In the spirit of the holiday season, Cara has joined Duracell in supporting Canadian children's hospitals. Duracell will be donating $180,000 to SickKids in Cara's name.

Hasbro has teamed up with Duracell, to donate toys and games, including favourites such as BOP IT!, FURBY CONNECT, FURREAL FRIENDS MY POOPIN' PUP and PLAYSKOOL HEROES TRANSFORMERS RESCUE-BOTS, powered by Duracell batteries, to participating Children's Miracle Network member hospitals in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, two in Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John's.

"Duracell believes in powering the imagination of sick children by helping to ensure kids can still be kids, and enjoy the magic of the season even in the midst of illness," said Peter Gorzkowski, Duracell Canada. "That's why we're excited to celebrate 10 years of donating a year supply of batteries to hospital playrooms across the country."

"We know that Canadians are extremely compassionate during the holidays," said Adam Starkman, Chief Development Officer at Children's Miracle Network. "With the support of Canadians and partners like Duracell, we can provide the funding needed to ensure that vital programs, equipment and research devoted to children's health continue to thrive."

There is so much to do this time of year and details can easily get overlooked, but there's nothing more disappointing than a child receiving a toy on Christmas morning and finding out it is powerless. Duracell suggests that families stock up on batteries of various sizes and cautions against removing the batteries from emergency devices such as smoke alarms and flashlights to use in gifts.

About Duracell Started in the 1920's, the Duracell brand and company was recently acquired by the Berkshire Hathaway Company (NYSE-BRK) and has grown to be the leader in the single-use battery market in North America. Its iconic brand is known the world over. Our products serve as the heart of devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them, and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles. Our recharging technology allows consumers to live life without limits. Berkshire Hathaway is a $210B holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in diverse business activities. Visit www.duracell.com for more information; follow us on Twitter.com/Duracell and like us on Facebook.com/Duracell.

About Alessia Cara Canadian singer/songwriter and Def Jam Recordings artist Alessia Cara emerged onto the music scene in 2015 with the release of her iconic anthem "Here." Co-written by Sebastian Kole, "Here" garnered over 500,000 total streams in its first week and went on to crack the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100 list, and rose to No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and Pop Songs charts in early 2016. A JUNO award winner for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Cara has also been nominated for an AMA for Best New Artist of the Year. She also recently completed a summer tour with Coldplay before hitting the road for her "Know-It-All" part 2 tour. A five-track EP, Four Pink Walls, was released in August 2015, followed by the full-length Know It All three months later. Her latest hit single, "Scars to Your Beautiful," is Cara's gut-wrenching take on female identity, on body image and on deleterious behaviors in the name of beauty. Cara walks listeners through heartache but concludes with strains of promise: "So to all the girls that's hurting/Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer," and the touching refrain: "There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark /You should know you're beautiful just the way you are."

About Children's Miracle Network Children's Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and research. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children's hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, at http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.ca and http://www.facebook.com/CMNHospitals.

To post a comment, you must register and login.