Budweiser Gardens’ Fifth Annual Open House Skate and Luxury Suite Raffle Raises $4500 in Toys for

Make A Wish Foundation of Southwestern Ontario

LONDON, Ontario (December 9, 2013) – The London Knights Hockey Club and Global Spectrum Facility Management joined forces to raise funds for the Annual Toy Drive. This season, the collection of toys will be donated to the Make A Wish Foundation of Southwestern Ontario on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

This campaign marks the fifth consecutive year that Budweiser Gardens has launched a Toy Drive each winter, tallying over $25,000 to local children’s charities since 2008. Funds raised from a Luxury Suite Raffle presented by Timbercreek Communities for a London Knights game in March 2014, as well as donations from an annual Open House Public Skate on December 1, 2013 raised over $4500 in toys for Make A Wish Foundation. During the skate, London Knights players Matt Rupert, Tait Seguin, Christian Dvorak, and Mitchell Marner helped collect toys and sign autographs for fans. A photo with the toy donations on centre ice is scheduled for December 10, 2013 at 10am.

“The staff at Budweiser Gardens is proud to support Make A Wish Foundation in the London community. We take pride in giving back to many organizations all year round, and especially during the holiday season,” said Global Spectrum Facility Management’s Brian Ohl, Regional Vice President and General Manager of Budweiser Gardens. “Partnering with the London Knights makes this Annual Toy Drive and Luxury Suite Raffle presented by Timbercreek Communities possible. Between the venue and hockey team, we look forward to contributing to those in need, and will encourage other Global Spectrum facilities throughout Ontario to do the same.”

The Knights vs. Guelph Storm game on November 7 kicked off the winter campaign with a Hats & Mitts Drive for the Salvation Army in an effort to keep kids warm this winter. “The London Knights are very proud to be a part of this generous community, and supporting those in need is one of our top priorities,” said Geoffrey Hare, Director of Marketing for the London Knights. “This contribution from fans and organizers alike means so much to our organization. We can’t thank our incredible fans enough for the support this holiday season!”

In addition to the Annual Toy Drive for Make A Wish Foundation, community support from Budweiser Gardens and the London Knights is ongoing. The London Business Cares Food Drive launches this week, and fans are encouraged bring non-perishable food items to the London Knights vs. Guelph Storm “Be a Fan, Bring a Can” game on Friday, December 13 as well as the Johnny Reid: A Christmas Gift to You concert on Saturday, December 14.

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Global Spectrum (global-spectrum.com) manages Budweiser Gardens, as well as more than 100 other public assembly facilities around the world. Nearly 20-million people attended more than 11,000 events in Global Spectrum venues last year. Based in Philadelphia, PA, Global Spectrum is part of Comcast-Spectacor, one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment companies. Comcast-Spectacor also owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, Ovations Food Services, a food and beverage services provider, New Era Tickets, a full-service ticketing and marketing product for public assembly facilities, Paciolan, the leading provider of venue establishment ticketing, fundraising and marketing technology solutions, Front Row Marketing Services, a commercial rights sales company, and Flyers Skate Zone, a series of community ice skating rinks.