Vancouver, BC – The Canucks for Kids Fund (CFKF) is very pleased to announce the generous donation of $100,000 from Finning (Canada) in support of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN). The Canucks for Kids Fund is the Vancouver Canucks charitable arm which dedicates its resources to assist charities who support children’s health and wellness, foster the development of grassroots hockey and facilitate and encourage education in British Columbia.

The $100,000 from Finning (Canada) is designated to CAN’s We CAN Be Friends program, an elementary school program designed to teach strategies of inclusion, friendship and empathy among students.

“Our goal is to touch the lives of every child and family living with autism in British Columbia and thanks to Finning Canada’s amazing generosity, we are one step closer,” said Jodi Simkin, executive director, Canucks Autism Network.

“Finning (Canada) is thrilled to partner with the Canucks Autism Network on this program. We are proud to sponsor schools in the BC communities we operate in and our employees are excited to get involved and make a difference,” said Kevin Tatlow, senior vice president, branch operations for Finning.

This year a total of 70 schools will receive the We CAN Be Friends programs. Resources include lesson plans, books, DVDs and games, as well as access to the Provincial Resource Centre for Autism. Finning’s donation will establish twenty new schools in communities throughout the province including sites on Vancouver Island, the far north as well as the Kootenays. For more information about We CAN Be Friends, or other CAN programs, please go to Canucksautism.ca.

Thanks to the generosity of our fans, donors, players, employees and sponsor partners, the CFKF has granted more than $33 million to charities in British Columbia over the last two decades serving 85 different organizations and helping them reach their goals.

Canucks Autism Network
The Canucks Autism Network, founded in 2008 by Vancouver Canucks owners Paolo & Clara Aquilini, delivers programs and services to children and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in British Columbia. Autism is a complex neurological disorder that is characterized by impairments in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and a display of restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities.

The Canucks Autism Network delivers programs and services to children and families living with autism throughout BC. The focus is on sports, recreation, social, vocational and awareness programs, including the We CAN Be Friends program.

Finning (Canada) is a division of Finning International Inc., the world’s largest Caterpillar equipment dealer. Founded in 1933, Finning sells, rents and provides unrivalled service for equipment and engines to help customers maximize productivity. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates in western Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay, as well as in Ireland and the United Kingdom.