News

New this season! If Esks’ season ticket holders can’t make a game, they can donate their tickets quickly and easily to Kids Up Front using the Esks online account manager. Big thanks to the Esks organization for doing everything they can to encourage season ticket holders to put Kids in their seats when they can’t be there. Cheers!

Thank you to season ticket donors in advance. Please note when considering a donation, we can accept tickets up until 2 pm on a weekday game day (Monday through Friday) or until 2pm on Friday for a weekend game.

Kids is getting tons of requests for tickets to DISNEY’S THE LION KING at the Jubilee Auditorium and to WALKING WITH DINOSAURS at Rexall Place! If there’s anyone out there that can get Kids to those events, we’d greatly appreciate your help.

Thanks to the CIBC Theatre for All program, 245 are off to see the WIZARD OF OZ at the Citadel this week. 

Thanks to the Edmonton Oilers Charitable Foundation and the Capitals Baseball organization for sending 200 Kids to take in the Capital’s first game at Telus Field.

We are often asked, what kind of tickets does Kids Up Front accept? ALL Kinds! We’re going to do a better job of keeping you informed about the types of experiences made possible through the generosity of our donors. Keep checking Stories for ticket news.

Kids can play golf thanks to the generosity of local CPGA Professional Jeff Sveen.Kids Up Front is thrilled to announce its new partnership Fore Kids with Kids Can Alberta. Led by CPGA Professional Jeff Sveen, kids in 30 rural and urban communities throughout Alberta will be given the special opportunity to play golf this summer. Kids Can will provide each child with a set of golf clubs, a membership and lessons. Jeff’s dream is that kids involved with Kids Can will discover their own passion for the game he grew to love as a kid!

Kids Up Front and Kids Can are also teaming up September 2nd at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club to host a charity golf tournament Fore Kids. The tournament will feature a shotgun start, modified stroke play and a live auction. Proceeds will support the delivery of the Kids Up Front and Kids Can programs. Teams of four can register now for $2,000. To register or learn more about sponsorship opportunities download the Fore Kids tournament brochure.

Join us in giving the CIBC a standing ovation for their efforts in promoting theatre for all in Edmonton. 

At the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Awards, our Theatre For All partnership with the CIBC and the Citadel Theatre was recognized for our innovative approach to making theatre accessible for kids and their families in Edmonton.

Following is a copy of the article that appeared on the CIBC’s intranet. For more information about how the CIBC supports communities throughout Canada, visit http://cibc.com/ca/inside-cibc/cibc-your-community/donations.html

CIBC receives Edmonton Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Award for Innovative Support

At the 22^nd annual Edmonton Awards Gala held this month, CIBC received the 2009 Edmonton Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Award for Innovative Support for the “CIBC Theatre for All” program.  This annual event showcases Edmonton’s arts community and celebrates vital partnerships between business and the arts.  

“CIBC Theatre for All” is a partnership between Kids Up Front and the Citadel Theatre in Alberta. Corporate sponsors and season tickets holders are encouraged to donate a percentage of their theatre tickets to Kids Up Front, a charity that re-distributes tickets to agencies that work with disadvantaged youth. Since the program’s inception in Edmonton two years ago, more than 1,500 theatre tickets have been used by Kids Up Front.  

“With CIBC’s support, we are able to put tickets into the hands of those who will treasure them,” said Karla Schell, Executive Director, Kids Up Front. “A ticket can be the key that opens the door to a world of possibility and can inspire dreams.”  

“This partnership with CIBC and Kids Up Front connects us to a whole new audience,” said Deb Proc, Corporate Relations Manager, Citadel Theatre. “The gushingly positive feedback we receive from the kids and their families, after having experienced live theatre for their first time, is what we live for.” 

Keystone Kids is a collaborative effort between Edmonton’s Foundation Concerts and Calgary’s Keystone Entertainment Group. This new partnership aims to bring children’s programming to Western Canada. The best news is they’ve chosen Kids Up Front as its national charity partner!

Keystone Kids will be sending kids to the shows, and we also encourage people to purchase tickets for Kids Up Front ‘cause a portion of the tour’s proceeds will be donated back to Kids Up Front in each city. To learn more click on Keystone Kids.

We are moving to a new location. Beginning March 27th please visit us at our new office conveniently located in the Kingsway Business Centre, 11810 Kingsway Avenue (next to the Ramada Hotel). There is ample parking around the KBC to make ticket donation drop-off and pick-up easier. Our phone number will remain the same 780.409.2632. Please note our scheduled moving days are March 25 and 26. We are going to try to get up and running as quickly as possible, but in the event we are down, we apologize for any inconvenience. On March 25 and 26 you may reach Christine at 780.909.3635 or Karla at 780.719.6997.

Kudos to the University of Alberta Athletics Department for inspiring hockey dreams and post secondary education! 30 ‘bigs and littles’ (aka Big Brother Big SIsters of Edmonton) cheered on the Golden Bears in January.