KCS’s 21st anniversary Holiday Express program has raised more than $280,000 to benefit The Salvation Army in 21 communities across its U.S. rail network. Those communities include Kansas City and Slater, Mo.; East St. Louis, Ill.; Pittsburg, Kans.; Ashdown and Mena, Ark.; Poteau and Stilwell, Okla.; Houston, Laredo, Port Arthur, Victoria and Wylie, Tex.; Baton Rouge, DeQuincy, Gonzalez and Shreveport, La.; and Corinth, Jackson, Meridian and Vicksburg, Miss.
Since its establishment, the charitable component of the KCS Holiday Express program has raised well over $2.6 million for The Salvation Army. During the first 19 years, the KCS Holiday Express train stopped in 20 or more communities, where donations were made to the 501(c)(3) organization to help provide warm clothing and other necessities for children in need. Due to the pandemic, the train did not run in 2020 or 2021.
“As the pandemic continues, the fastest increasing area of need is for families who will be unable to pay their rent or mortgages and face eviction,” KCS President and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer said. “The donations The Salvation Army will receive through the KCS Holiday Express [this year] will help keep families in their homes and keep hope marching on for them into 2022.”
CP has reported that fundraising efforts over the past two years for the CP Women’s Open (CPWO) have helped provide more than $2.8 million for the BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, and $557,000 for the Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital in British Columbia.
According to the Class I railroad, BC Children’s Hospital funds will go toward cardiac ultrasound machines, research supporting the catheterization program, and two graduate students who will conduct full-time pediatric cardiac research; funds for Kamloops Royal Inland will be used to support a renovation and equipment for a new cardiac department.
“For two years in a row, due to the pandemic, we have not been able to hold the CP Women’s Open, but that has not diminished the incredible generosity of the community,” CP President and CEO Keith Creel said. “We are grateful for the community’s ongoing participation and support, and look forward to bringing the CPWO back once it is safe to do so.”
“When we set out on our quest to transform cardiac care for kids in BC, we knew we couldn’t do it alone,” said Malcolm Berry, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “That is why we are so grateful for the support of partners like Canadian Pacific. We want to extend a huge thank you to CP for being with us every step of the way. From securing innovative equipment to advancing ground-breaking research and training, this partnership has helped us take significant steps forward to ensure that heart disease doesn’t stop children from living full, healthy lives.”
“The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation is honored to be the community partner of CP and would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for helping to raise over $557,000,” Royal Inland Hospital Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman said. “Through the matching initiatives they have provided us, we were able to double our impact at Royal Inland Hospital. Through CP’s contribution, we will enhance cardiac care within the Thompson Cariboo Health Service Area.”
The 2022 CP Women’s Open will be played in Ottawa at the Ottawa Hunt Club from August 22-28, 2022.
Fuente:
Marybeth Luczak-https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/kcs-cp-deliver-support-to-local-communities/
