Annual Christmas Cheer Breakfast raises tens of thousands for Ottawa charities

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Christmas Cheer Breakfast supports local charities

Rosey at the Christmas Cheer Breakfast

The 74th annual Christmas Cheer Breakfast raised $130,000 to support more than 30 charities throughout the Ottawa community Friday morning.

“All of the proceeds go to our charities, we divide it up, and they’re all focused on food insecurity to help families this time of year, especially with the holidays,” said Roslyn Smith, Christmas Cheer Breakfast committee chair.

The Ottawa Mission is one of the local organizations that will receive a charitable donation from the event.

“It’s always a generous donation, in the thousands of dollars and of course,” said Peter Tilley, CEO of the Ottawa Mission.

“Every dollar we receive could be a meal or several meals for somebody who is homeless. It could be somebody who is getting a meal from the food truck program, it could be somebody who is coming into our doors just to pick up a winter coat and then move on.”

The event started at 7 a.m. at the Infinity Convention Centre on Gibford Drive with CTV Ottawa anchors Patricia Boal and Stefan Keyes as MCs.

“They’re raising money today for organizations that deal with food insecurity and we know that has been a really, really tough thing this year so as you’re having breakfast, you’re thinking about giving back and you’re also connecting with your friends and neighbors, which is awesome,” Boal said.

“It’s always a lovely reminder of how blessed we are and privileged we are to be here in this room, to be able to raise money for those who may not be in the same position,” Keyes said. “It always warms your heart to see everyone come together for such a worthy cause.”

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