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Vehicles & Violins – 19 Years of Giving

Currently in its 66th year, the Calgary Motor Dealers Association (CMDA) has a long history of involvement with charitable organizations in the City of Calgary and our members have raised millions of dollars to support worthwhile charitable causes. To further enhance these endeavors the CMDA is proud to announce our new charitable foundation aptly named, the Calgary Motor Dealers Charitable Foundation. Our mission states “the Calgary Motor Dealers Charitable Foundation is committed to providing Calgary and area charities and educational institutions the opportunity to enhance the community on behalf of the Calgary Motor Dealers Association and its Dealer Members”.

The 2018 Vehicles and Violins Gala is our 19th annual staging of this event, and for 2018 we are thrilled to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities, a highly-deserving charity, to benefit from proceeds of this event. Ronald McDonald House Charities provides a valuable service to our community. We are very proud to have them as the beneficiaries of our 2018 Gala.

Since our first Gala in the year 2000, we have raised more than $3.9 million for charity! This money has been shared by:

  • Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre
  • Alberta Cancer Foundation
  • Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation
  • ALS Society of Alberta
  • Alzheimer Society of Calgary
  • Calgary Meals on Wheels
  • Calgary Prostate Cancer Foundation
  • Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
  • Canadian Cancer Society, Volunteer Driver Program
  • Canadian Diabetes Association
  • Children’s Cottage Society
  • CMDA Entrance Endowment Fund at SAIT Polytechnic
  • Fresh Start Recovery Centre
  • Hospice Calgary
  • Inn from the Cold Society
  • Kids Help Phone
  • KidSport Calgary
  • Make- A-Wish Southern Alberta Canada
  • Parkinson’s Society of Southern Alberta
  • The Alex
  • The Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre
  • The Heartstrings Program of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
  • The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, NWT and Nunavut
  • The Kids Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta
  • The Missing Children Society of Canada
  • The Mustard Seed
  • The Prostate Cancer Institute of Calgary

We are extremely proud to work with our members, sponsors, charities and patrons in this highly successful and ongoing endeavor to support incredibly worthwhile and deserving charities in our community.

About Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta

Imagine learning that your child is ill and you will need to travel to a different city to receive the medical care they need. In the midst of your worst nightmare as a parent, you must now also leave your home, your job and your support system. This is the reality for more than 70 per cent of Canadian families with seriously ill or injured children.

Ronald McDonald House® Southern Alberta is here to help. Our House provides a home away from home for families with children receiving vital medical treatment in Calgary. Most importantly, our warm, welcoming and affordable accommodations help ease the heavy financial and emotional burdens placed on the hundreds of families who come through our doors each year.
Built in 2007, our House offers 24 private family suites, a communal kitchen, home-style living rooms, free laundry facilities, play areas and programming for all ages facilitated by our Family Services team. Last year, 847 activities were offered to families.

Families can share experiences, eat a warm homemade meal, and rest while caring for a sick child. Over 450 brunches and dinners were served to our families by over 150 generous Home for dinner groups last year and more than 37,000 baked goods were prepared by our in-House volunteer bakers.

“I can’t even begin to explain how amazing it was after a long day at the hospital. I honestly don’t think I would have eaten most nights, otherwise,” says Kyla Thompson, who spent 560 days at the House while her daughter received medical treatment at ACH.

Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta served 320 families, last year. The longest stay by one family was 296 days. While each family suite costs $192 per night to operate, families are only asked to pay a nominal nightly fee of $12. The House relies on donations, grants and fundraising to help keep hundreds of families close to their children receiving vital medical care.

In addition to our Houses, we are the proud operator of Canada’s first and only Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. Staffed by registered clinicians from Mosaic Primary Care Network, this state-of-the-art mobile clinic provides essential healthcare services and wellness programming to those living in east Calgary who need it most. Last year, our Care Mobile served over 2,950 patients over 233 days of programming.