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Eleven-year-old Ontario girl wins annual Pier 1 Imports®/UNICEF/Owlkids Greeting Card Contest
Publication Date: 2018/03/26
TORONTO, March 26, 2018 – Eleven-year-old Catherine from Richmond Hill, Ontario, has been named the grand prize winner of the annual Pier 1 Imports/UNICEF/Owlkids Greeting Card Contest. Catherine’s design will become an official UNICEF greeting card sold exclusively at Pier 1 Imports’ stores across Canada during the 2018 holiday season. As the winner, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship, her school will receive $500 for art supplies and the top five finalists will receive an Owlkids prize pack.
“My work represents freedom, liberty and peace to all children around the world,” said Catherine. “It shows that no matter who you are, or where you’re from, children deserve the liberty to live and have a normal life. They have the right to play, make new friends and be free.”
Pier 1 Imports received hundreds of creative designs from children across Canada, all uniquely depicting the theme of Celebrating Children Around the World. Catherine’s winning design illustrates children of different backgrounds holding hands and enjoying the outdoors.
“The children in my art work show that even if they’re different from others, they need to be treated the way you want to be treated,” said Catherine. “Like everyone says, you are beautiful the way you are.”
The annual contest was launched in Canada in 2006 to help raise awareness about UNICEF’s global work for children. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of all UNICEF cards sold at Pier 1 Imports stores across Canada go to support UNICEF’s life-saving work for children and families around the world.
“When we saw all of the inspirational drawings being sent in from children across Canada, and with such positive messages, we couldn’t help but be inspired about the future. Children like Catherine, who are the leaders of tomorrow, have so much to teach us about diversity, respect and hope,” said Linton Carter, chief development officer at UNICEF Canada. “Congratulations to Catherine and to all of the children who entered the contest, for using their creativity and passion to help other vulnerable children around the world. Together, our partnership with Pier 1 Imports and Owlkids is changing lives.”
To date, the partnership with Pier 1 Imports has raised more than $5.4 million to support children through UNICEF Canada.
To view this year’s winning designs, visit www.pier1.ca/unicef.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, ensuring we are on the ground to help the most disadvantaged children. While part of the UN system, UNICEF relies entirely on voluntary donations to finance our life-saving work. Please visit unicef.ca and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.