Days Inns raise $200,000 to help fight childhood cancer

Regina Days Inn staff held two barbecues this summer and raised $4,455 since July 1.

TORONTO—This September, all 90 Canadian Days Inns, which have an estimated 2,000-plus staff, participated in a campaign to combat childhood cancer. The hotels received paper gold ribbons to sell at the front desk for a minimum donation of $1. Signed ribbons were displayed behind the front desk.

Hotels donated a minimum of $1 per room sold during the week of September 14-20, 2009. Some hotels donated $1 per room sold for the entire month of September.
Other hotels chose to hold private fundraising events such as barbecues, pizza days and staff incentives.

“After researching numerous charitable causes and receiving feedback from our franchisees, we found the perfect match in the Childhood Cancer Foundation of Canada,” says Irwin Prince, president of Realstar, the master franchisor for Days Inns - Canada.
Since 2006, the hotels have raised around $200,000.

To kick off the campaign in 2006, the Mountain of Hope fundraiser supported 13-year-old Brandon Schupp in climbing the 10,000-foot Good Hope Mountain in BC. Days Inns collected donations from staff and guests, and head office matched donations for a total of $30,000.

Front desk manager Days Inn - Ottawa West is proud of all the ribbons they collected.

Days Inn - Regina challenged its staff to raise $500 between September 14-21 to get their general manager, Chris Regier, to shave his head. The staff rose to the challenge and Chris lost his hair.

Radio station 92.7's Big Dog hosted the Days Inn - Regina BBQ and was live-to-air.

Gold ribbons displayed at the front desk of the Days Inn - Sudbury.

At Days Inn - Brandon, Amanda Mosset collected the most donations and won a gift basket. Shown here are Nadine Kozakevich (left), front desk manager, and Amanda (right), front desk staff.

Nadine Kozakevich with Days Inn - Brandon's wall of ribbons.