CDI College and Vancouver Career College Come Together to Lift Up Canada
Vancouver -- Last night, 1248 youngsters and their families walked down the red carpet to the cheers and applause of celebrities, sports figures, political dignitaries, community leaders and special volunteers at the Canadian premiere of Meet Me in Miami at Cinemark Tinseltown theatres.
The Lift Up Canada event was a full-on Hollywood-style premiere with the youngsters and their families as the Honoured Guests. Members of the Vancouver Canucks and BC Lions stood on the sides of the red carpet asking the children for autographs. Local celebrity Brendan Beiser also conducted interviews and the kids were thrilled to see their faces up on the Jumbotron.
“This is the best night of my life and I haven’t even gotten in there yet!” exclaimed one young man as he emerged from the limo.
At a press conference earlier in the evening, Executive Chairman of the Eminata Group Dr. Peter Chung, announced that the Eminata Group, the event’s main sponsor, had donated $1.4 million in scholarships to the children in attendance.
“We know the importance that training and education have on a person’s future,” said Dr. Chung. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to pursue their hopes and dreams.”
At the end of the night, the Honoured Guests received a premiere gift bag that contained a $1000 scholarship certificate to CDI and Vancouver Career College as well as passes for two to the Vancouver Symphony. Other gifts included Cookie Lee jewelry, gift certificates and toys.
A small army of yellow-shirted volunteers from the Eminata Group, CDI College and Vancouver Career College attended the event. And their enthusiasm, compassion and endless energy lit up the night.
“We had an amazing response from Eminata employees,” said Lift Up Canada’s Nancy Walters. “They were absolutely stellar and they stayed until the bitter end.”
Last night’s event was the first of many for the Eminata Group and Lift Up Canada, according to President and CEO Randy Cox.
“Today is the start of a legacy,” said Cox. “Our scholarships are the foundation and today is just the beginning.”