2019-2020 recipient of the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award

GORD BAMFORD FOUNDATION RAISING FUNDS FOR CREATIVE KIDS

September 9, 2017
For Immediate Release
PRESS RELEASE
GORD BAMFORD FOUNDATION RAISING FUNDS FOR CREATIVE KIDS

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, Canadian Country Music Recording Artist Gord Bamford presented Creative Kids Saskatchewan with a substantial donation to support kids in the Province facing financial barriers to participation in arts, cultural or creative activities.

As part of SIRIUSXM FanFest, Bamford took a moment from his performance to make a $2,500 donation from the Gord Bamford Foundation to Creative Kids, as well as announcing the Gord Bamford Foundation will be donating a very exciting grand prize to be raffled off in support of Creative Kids – A VIP all-expenses paid trip for two to the Beachside with Bamford concert, being held January, 2018 in Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Second prize is an autographed by Gord Bamford acoustic guitar, donated by Long & McQuade.

“I am pleased to announce funding support to Creative Kids Saskatchewan. The work they do for children aligns perfectly with the Gord Bamford Foundation mandate, which is supporting children and youth while encouraging them to participate in creative activities like music, dance, theatre and culture. All of these activities create confidence and can often spark a lifelong passion for a child to pursue.” says Bamford.

All proceeds raised through the raffle will go to support Creative Kids Saskatchewan. With PotashCorp generously deciding to match the first 6K of funds raised through this raffle, it’s sure to be a success. Creative Kids is a charitable giving program that removes financial barriers for children and youth wishing to participate in arts and culture activities in Saskatchewan.

SaskCulture/Creative Kids president Joanne McDonald says, “We are so thankful Gord Bamford understands the important role arts and culture participation has in the development of children and youth, and the positive impact it makes in their lives. We greatly appreciate the generous support of the Gord Bamford Foundation to Creative Kids. Together we are helping dreams come true.”

Raffle tickets may be purchased on line at www.creativekidssask.ca or by calling toll free 1-855-277-9469. For more info on the Gord Bamford Foundation visit
www.gordbamfordfoundation.com
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For media inquiries:
Sean Cordner Manager-National Media Relations, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
office: 416.589.3048
mobile: 416.419.2267
sean.cordner@sonymusic.com
Christie McCulloch, Creative Kids Fund Development, (306) 780-9251 cmcculloch@saskculture.ca

MUSICOUNTS ANNOUNCES $100,000 CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GORD BAMFORD FOUNDATION

SASKATOON, SK – Today, Canada’s leading music education charity MusiCounts, celebrated the start of Country Music Week, with an announcement that the Gord Bamford Foundation is renewing its commitment to MusiCounts with a $100,000 donation. The Gord Bamford Foundation had previously made a generous donation of $100,000 in 2014. A non-profit organization, the Gord Bamford Foundation is passionate about supporting youth and through the ongoing partnership, MusiCounts will be able to provide musical instruments to children who need them most for years to come.

“I believe that keeping music education alive in schools is important on so many levels. As an activity it builds confidence and can often spark a lifelong passion for a child to pursue. A natural fit for the Gord Bamford Foundation, I’m so very proud to announce this donation today,”  said Gord Bamford.

“Thanks to the renewed and amazing support from the Gord Bamford Foundation, MusiCounts is able to give more Canadian youth access to the transformational power of music,” said Kristy Fletcher, Director of MusiCounts. “We are honoured to have the continued support of the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) and the country music community.”

Bamford will speak on behalf of MusiCounts at the CCMA Awards Gala & Dinner on September 9, and JUNO Award-winner and three-time CCMA Award-winner Jess Moskaluke will speak on behalf of MusiCounts during the CCMA Awards broadcast on September 10. Moskaluke was also on hand to kick off the opening of the 2017-2018 MusiCounts Band Aid Program applications on September 8, with a special celebration at École canadienne-française in Saskatoon.

Via the CCMA’s generous support of the MusiCounts Band Aid Program, the school received a $10,000 grant this year that went towards the purchase of many needed band instruments. Since 2013, the CCMA has contributed over $60,000 to MusiCounts, helping to put instruments into the hands of kids who need them most. The 2017 CCMA Award Nominee for “Female Artist of the Year’ and “Single of the Year’, Moskaluke surprised school students with instruments and a special performance of her chart topping hits “Kiss Me Quiet” and “Drive Me Away”. She also spoke about the impact music education had on her own life and music career.

“Today was an incredible day for me. To be able to share my love of music with these amazing students and MusiCounts, while in my home province of Saskatchewan was the perfect way to kick off this weekend,” said Jess Moskaluke.

Schools who would like to apply for the MusiCounts Band Aid Program to receive instruments for their school music program should visit musicounts.ca for more details.

**To download hi-res images from the MusiCounts Band Aid Program celebration click here. (Photo credit: Barry Roden).

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For more information please contact:

Laura Steen

Strut Entertainment

laura@strutentertainment.com

416.300.9254

About MusiCounts

MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS and the JUNO Awards is keeping music alive in schools and communities across Canada by putting musical instruments into the hands of children that need them most. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that youth in Canada have access to music programs through their schools and communities. MusiCounts celebrates musical excellence and achieves its mission through its Band Aid Program, the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by many of Canada’s most dedicated corporate citizens including and especially  the Canadian Country Music Association,TD Bank Group, Bell Media, SiriusXM Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, Music Canada, Vista Radio, and The Hot Topic Foundation. MusiCounts has been supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada Ltd., JUNO Songwriters’ Circle and JUNO Cup. MusiCounts was established in 1997, and has awarded over $10,000,000 in support of music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted over 950 schools and communities, supported over 350 post-secondary music program graduates, and honoured 12 extraordinary music teachers and one MusiCounts ambassador.

 

For more information, visit www.musicounts.ca

September 6, 2017
For Immediate Release
M E D I A  A D V I S O R Y

GORD BAMFORD RAISING FUNDS FOR CREATIVE KIDS IN SASKATOON

Join us at the Canadian Country Music Awards SiriusXM FanFest in Saskatoon for a special LIVE on-stage announcement and presentation by Canadian Country Recording Artist Gord Bamford to Creative Kids Saskatchewan.

DATE: Saturday, September 9, 2017
TIME: 1:40 PM
LOCATION: Prairieland Park, 503 Ruth St. W.

Gord Bamford stands as one of Canada’s most decorated country artists. With 24 Canadian Country Music Awards. Nominated this year for ‘Male Artist of The Year’ and the coveted Apple Music Fans Choice Award confirms that Gord Bamford continues to work hard to deliver the best in country music. About the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation: As a not for profit organization, The Gord Bamford Foundation is passionate about supporting youth. As a Foundation we provide funds for initiatives that include or involve music, education, health care, sports, and multi-use
facilities that benefit youth across Canada. Visit www.gordbamford.com for more information.

Creative Kids Saskatchewan is a charitable organization which provides funding to support children whose families face financial barriers to accessing and participating in artistic and cultural activities. Visit www.creativekidssask.ca for more information.
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For media inquiries:
Sean Cordner Manager-National Media Relations
Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
office: 416.589.3048
mobile: 416.419.2267
sean.cordner@sonymusic.com
Christie McCulloch, Creative Kids Fund Development, (306) 780-9251,
cmcculloch@saskculture.ca

Gord Bamford Hospitals Tour

Tylers Story

Tyler Gauthier goes on a Disney Cruise!

“A very special thank you to Gord Bamford for adopting Tyler’s wish, and for the gift of life, hope, and joy this has provided to our family.” – The Gauthier family, Red Deer, Alberta

Memorizing every detail of the Disney cruise ship earned Tyler Gauthier a job: he was the official family vacation tour guide. Once on the boat, Tyler shone brightly, proudly explaining how to order room service, to the elaborate details of the Walt Disney theatre. This Make A Wish recipient did exactly what he was encouraged to do: savour every moment of his Disney Cruise Ship trip. The vacation was made possible by the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation, after the country music star found out about Tyler’s diagnosis with Acoustic Neuroma from the Make A Wish Foundation of Northern Alberta. Four days before Christmas, 2012, the family learned the 14-year-old had a tumour that had hooked onto his facial and hearing nerves. In August, 2013, The Foundation helped to grant Tyler his wish of experiencing a trip of a lifetime on the Disney Cruise ship. From handling baby turtles on the Cayman Islands, to swimming and interacting with dolphins in Costa Maya, Tyler Gauthier forgot his painful operations and revelled in becoming just a teenager away on a very special family vacation.

 

Pictures

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Season’s Greetings from the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation

Dear Friends;

During this holiday season, it is important to reflect back on the year, and count our many blessings. The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation was truly blessed in raising a record $355,000 in 2013. As a result of this generosity we are making a difference in the lives of many, all across Canada. In fact, this fall the Foundation has donated $165,000 to the following charities:

  • Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, Edmonton, AB
  • Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Calgary, AB
  • Jeneece Place, Children’s Health Foundation, Victoria, BC
  • BC Children’s Health Foundation, Vancouver, BC
  • Janeway Children’s Hospital Foundation, St. John’s, NL
  • IWK Health Centre Foundation, Halifax, NS
  • Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Montreal, QC
  • Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON
  • The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON
  • Make A Wish Foundation Northern Alberta
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Lacombe & District
  • Lacombe Athletic Park Association
  • Lacombe Minor Baseball
  • McMan Youth and Family Community Services, Red Deer, AB
  • Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre, Red Deer, AB
  • The Ronald McDonald House, Central Alberta

Again, thank you for your continued support of the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation. We look forward to continuing to Pay It Forward for many, many years to come.

Sincerely,

Gord & Foundation members

Gord Bamford Makes Music Come Alive for Daniel Yaretz

Canadian Country Music Star Shares the Power of Music

When Daniel Yaretz thought his headaches and dizziness were just a bad bout of the flu back in March, 2010, he was sorely mistaken.

It turned out he was in for the fight of, and for, his life.

Spinal meningitis put Yaretz in the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta that spring. The illness was beginning to take its toll on the teenager from Cranbrook, British Columbia, praying on his psyche so much so that he was beginning to lose sight of all the things that meant the most to him—the greatest being his love of music.

Then he met Gord Bamford.

“I had heard a couple of his songs but had no idea who (Bamford) was. He came by with three other guys, and I was (thinking to myself), Ok which guy is it?,” he says now laughing at the memory. “At that point I had heard some of his songs, but I really didn’t know what he looked like,” he says, remembering that gloomy March afternoon when Bamford and his small group of musicians walked into his intensive care unit room.

That afternoon Bamford sang some songs and spent almost an hour with Yaretz. Spending time with sick children is a priority for the singer, and one of the main reasons why he started The Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation in 2008. He wanted to generate money for children’s hospitals all across Canada, and help children like Yaretz see that life is worth living, no matter how sick they may be.

Yaretz’ first surgery to his mitral heart value was successful, however a follow-up echo-cardiogram showed progressively worsening signs of congestive heart failure. The teenager also was showing a progressive failure to thrive, losing a dramatic 33 pounds.

“I was still kind of hurting, and coming to the realization of Oh wow, holy smokes, I just went through heart surgery. I was starting to be a Debbie downer, starting to be a little more depressed and thinking oh man, this is not fun,” explains Yaretz.

“One of the social workers came by and said, “Hey you know what? We’ve got someone here who is playing music for the other children, and we’d like him to come in and sing some songs for you.” And I said, well, of course, I’d love to hear some music, definitely.  I hadn’t heard music for a couple of months, and I’m a musician! Instantly my spirits got lifted and I was very happy.”

On a personal level, Bamford says he understands how music puts people in their happy place.

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“For me, (and for lots of people), music is a place that I go when I need some time on my own or when I’m feeling down or happy,” says Bamford. “Sometimes music relaxes you and takes every other worry or thing you have in life away. You kind of get away on your own for a while.”

On a deeper level, Bamford knows how his visit profoundly changed the young man’s course in life.

“Kids are a priority for me. It’s just a proven fact when you get testimonials from Daniel on how his life has changed (because of music), sometimes you just have to see it to believe it. That was definitely one of those situations,” remembers Bamford of that first visit, saying there wasn’t a dry eye in his group when they left the hospital that day.

“From the very first note, hearing the guitar again, and hearing someone singing was just so inspiring,” echoes Yaretz.” I was just so sad to know that I almost died and I almost lost what I really loved to do, which was music. To have someone come in and play you some notes and sing you some tunes was just really heart-warming. It brought me more inspiration and encouragement to fight on.”

And what did Bamford say that day? “He said to me, ‘Hey bud, just keep going with it, you’re a big fighter. You know what you need to do,” Yaretz says of that first visit. And in the power of the moment, Bamford did something unusual—he gave Daniel his prized, personal Gibson guitar (worth close to $5000). On it he wrote: “Daniel: I love you BUD. 2010. Gord Bamford.” Today Bamford regularly gives guitars away to sick children on his hospital visits.

Since that time, Bamford has stayed in touch with Yaretz, visiting him on his birthday when he was in the hospital after his second heart surgery, but also visiting him in his hometown of Cranbrook, when his tour came through town. Bamford was also recognized by his peers at the Canadian Country Music Association, who named him Humanitarian of the Year in 2010 for his philanthropic efforts with the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation and work with children’s hospitals.

Today the University of Lethbridge music and education student is healthy and thriving. And from his near death experience he learned to take the gift of music back to his own community. “Right after (the surgery) I did some talks with some high schools about my experience. The biggest thing I kept telling people was that instead of being depressed about it, take something from it and learn from it. That’s the biggest achievement of them all.” The 20-year-old musician often plays for the local senior’s center or the hospital children’s ward and is a recipient of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association Gold level “Musical Community Service Award” for volunteering over 60 musical service hours performing piano in the community.

No matter where their lives may take them, the sound of music will undoubtedly continue on for both Yaretz and Bamford.

“I may be just a guy with a guitar, but I have seen first-hand the power of music when it comes to healing,” says Bamford.

Luckily for Daniel Yaretz, Gord Bamford’s simple gift of country songs saved his life.

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 Yaretz1 Yaretz2

Before and After Pictures:
University of Lethbridge Student Daniel Yaretz with the Gibson guitar Gord Bamford gave him during his 2010 visit to the Intensive Care Unit at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.

Alexander goes to Disney World

The Gord Bamford Foundation partnered with Make-a-Wish to provide an opportunity for Alexander to have his wish.

Story

About a month before Alexander’s wish trip to Disney World, he received a special package from his Wish Grantor to help him count down the days leading up to his wish. Alexander was extremely excited as soon as he got on board the WestJet plane. On the plane they announced that they have a special guest on board and Alexander was surprised to hear his name. From then on, the family just knew this was going to be an unforgettable experience.

Alexander just loved being able to hug Mickey & Minnie. Going on rides and having Ice cream all day long at Give Kids The World. This was a special time with his family that he will always be able to remember!

Pictures

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About Make a Wish Foundtion

Make-A-Wish® Northern Alberta grants the wishes of children living with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experiences with hope, strength and joy.

Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation Book Donation

A letter from Lawrence Prout, President of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba:

On behalf of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba thank you for your recent donation of books that we have received courtesy of the Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation.

Over 130,000 children pass through the Children’s Hospital every year. Your books will be a wonderful comfort to the children who will visit our Children’s Emergency Department our, Child Protection Services unit or our Day Surgery department.

Once again, on behalf of The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and the many children that you have helped, thank you … because children need us!

Sincerely,

Lawrence Prout, CFRE
President & CEO
the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba