Vigilant Futures becomes corporate sponsor of Raise-A-Reader

Vigilant Futures, a Montreal-based research and development firm and leader in the design and implementation of high-performance systems and innovative software solutions for the world of electronic finance, has announced that it has become a corporate sponsor of Postmedia Raise-A-Reader, the national fundraising initiative to improve nationwide literacy skills.

"Education starts with perfecting the basics like reading and we sometimes forget that poor literacy skills are still common in developed countries like Canada. Making reading and learning fun at a young age we hope will help to address this problem in our community", said Josh Felker, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vigilant Futures.

The campaign raises funds and awareness for children and family literacy, with all of the funds raised going to family literacy organizations in Montreal and Quebec.

In addition to its corporate sponsorship, employees of Vigilant Futures held an internal silent auction throughout the month of August, with proceeds going towards this year's Raise-A-Reader Day.

"Literacy is the key to unlocking one's potential", said Gisèle Bernier-White, Marketing Manager at The Gazette. "The access to information, the means to communicate, the opportunity to be entertained are all benefits we as readers can experience and enjoy. In fact, these advantages are so inherent we might not realize that others aren't sharing the same freedom.

"Some forty per cent of Canadians have lower level literacy and we are so pleased to have the support of Vigilant Futures to help us improve that statistic here in our community through their new support of Raise-a-Reader. Having Vigilant Futures partnering with The Gazette's Raise-a-Reader program is a good news story for literacy in Montreal".

Today is Raise-a-Reader Day across Canada. Volunteers in Montreal will exchange a special Raise-a-Reader edition of The Gazette for donations to literacy.

"We are very excited to announce Land Rover's sponsorship of the 2010 Games", said Terry Johnson, vice president of marketing and sales for the Foundation. "Their vehicles are world-renowned for superior performance and style, and their sponsorship is a perfect fit for this world-class event".

"Eventing as a sport requires a skill level combining power, control, elegance and capability; all the traits we feel are represented in the interior refinements and performance characteristics of our Land Rovers and Range Rovers", said Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Land Rover North America.

"Equestrian enthusiasts tend to enjoy outdoor sports and activities, and supporting an event where visitors will both enjoy the beauty of the Kentucky Horse Park and witness world-class competition is a natural fit for Land Rover".

Land Rover is also the Official Vehicle of the United States Equestrian Federation and is the title sponsor of the 2010 United States Eventing Team.

Land Rover has supported equestrian sport in the U.K. since the early 1990s, supporting the show jumping and eventing communities. The company recently announced it will be the official vehicle supplier to Equestrian Team GBR, which underpins Land Rover support of U.K. equestrian sport.

As part of the sponsorship, the airline will support the new Portland Timbers Community Fund, partnering with the team on several youth-based fitness and educational initiatives. Additionally, the airline will donate twenty-five game-day tickets to underprivileged Portland-area youths at every home game as part of the Timbers Tickets for Kids program. Alaska Airlines also will be the presenting sponsor for all MLS Timbers youth soccer camps.

"With Portland roots going back more than three decades, Alaska Airlines is honored to be the MLS Timbers' jersey sponsor", said Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden. "Supporting Portland's hometown soccer team is the perfect fit for Alaska Airlines and the 2,300 Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air employees who call the greater Portland area home".

With the announcement, Alaska Airlines becomes the first airline jersey sponsor in the fifteen-year history of MLS.

"Merritt Paulson and the entire Timbers staff have done a fantastic job elevating the profile of professional soccer in Portland and the Pacific Northwest, and this strategic alliance is one of many reasons why we believe the Timbers will be very successful when they debut in MLS next year", said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "What makes this new partnership so special is the fact that Alaska Airlines has such a strong presence in Portland, helping to build excitement in a region already so rich in soccer tradition".

MLS Timbers fans attending games at the newly renovated PGE Park also will see Alaska Airlines advertising throughout the stadium including new field-level animated digital signage.

The Timbers will unveil the team's MLS uniforms and official training wear featuring the Alaska Airlines logo in December.

Picture: Alaska Airlines becomes the first airline jersey sponsor in the 15-year history of MLS. Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer.

"I am delighted and proud that Nationwide Insurance has joined the Memorial Tournament as presenting sponsor", Jack Nicklaus said. "When we created the Memorial Tournament thirty-five years ago, we did so with Central Ohio in mind. It was our way of bringing world class golf to our hometown and to the passionate fans of our state.

"I believe Nationwide Insurance furthers our national platform but at the same time brings us back to the genesis of the event, and that is to showcase golf to Central Ohio and at the same time showcase Dublin, Columbus and the surrounding area to the golf world. There is a commonality and a commitment to excellence between Nationwide Insurance and the Memorial Tournament.

"Nationwide Insurance has been one of the leading companies in Central Ohio for over eighty years. As a native of Columbus, I have watched and admired Nationwide's growth and, more important, the company’s contributions to the community. In addition, Nationwide Insurance has a rich history within the game of golf. It has been a strong supporter of professional golf and the important charities the game and tournaments benefit".

Through this relationship, Nationwide Insurance will become the first locally-based presenting sponsor in the Tournament's 35-year history. The partnership brings together two iconic Central Ohio brands, with a goal of staging a world class event that gives back to the community and many deserving local charities.

"We're excited for the Nationwide brand to be associated with one of the premier golf tournaments in the world, and golf's greatest player, Jack Nicklaus", said Steve Rasmussen (left), CEO of Nationwide Insurance. "Partnering with the Memorial allows us to support an event that draws the national spotlight to Central Ohio every year, while helping deserving local charities like Nationwide Children’s Hospital fulfill their mission".

Over the past two decades, Nationwide Insurance has maintained a long-standing high profile relationship with the PGA TOUR as one of the game's most passionate supporters. From 1991-2000 Nationwide sponsored the Champions Tour's Nationwide Championship near Atlanta. Since 2003 the insurance giant has sponsored the Nationwide Tour, making Nationwide Insurance the longest running umbrella sponsor in that Tour's history. It also has sponsored the Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational in Columbus since 2007.