Easy as pie

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From left, Andrew Shefchyk, director of marketing for Boston Pizza, Steve McConnell, manager with the MLCC, Diana Bayles of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Randy Davison, manager of Boston Pizza in Portage la Prairie. They’re holding Boston Pizza’s paper and pizza hearts that raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Somewhere in southern Manitoba, there's a person who can thank a pizza for saving their life.

An automated external defibrillator is being credited for saving the life of a patron who suffered cardiac arrest at the William Glesby Centre in Portage la Prairie a few weeks ago.

But the automated external defibrillator (AED) that saved that person's life was purchased and installed thanks to Boston Pizza through its annual fundraising initiative to help the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.

"It just shows the more AEDs we get out there, the more lives we can save," said Diana Bayles, the foundation's resuscitation/AED program manager.

"Three minutes is our golden time to get to a person when they go down. With CPR, you have a five per cent chance, while with AED you have a 75 per cent chance."

Randy Davison, the manager of the Boston Pizza in Portage la Prairie, said he's pleased and humbled that an AED machine paid for, in part, because of the pizza chain's fundraiser, saved a life in his area.

"I thought it was very fortuitous the machine was placed there," Davison said.

"I'm very proud to be part of a fundraiser in a company that has a corporate calling which is proactive in helping communities."

In fact, when it comes to supporting local and national charities, Boston Pizza has a heart.

The chain, which was founded in Edmonton in 1964, is an example of what a company can do to help charitable organizations. Its 340 local restaurants across the country each helps local charities.

This help includes Booster Nights, evenings that benefit a charity through raffle-ticket sales and a portion of drink sales.

As well, the Boston Pizza Foundation, founded in 1990, helps nationally.

The foundation raises money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation ($2.7 million since 1993), Kids Help Phone (more than $2 million in the last 10 years), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (almost $1 million and it is the primary sponsor of the JDRF's Clinical Centre for Islet Cell Transplantation at the University of Alberta). In recent days, it has been raising money for Haitian relief efforts.

As well, across the country, it supports numerous other non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the David Foster Foundation, the Starlight Foundation, Kidsability and the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation in Winnipeg.

Andrew Shefchyk, Boston Pizza's director of marketing, said that during its Heart and Stroke fundraiser, not only does Boston Pizza sell paper hearts to raise funds from now until Valentine's Day at all 15 of its restaurants in the province, but on Valentine's Day itself, they cook heart-shaped pizzas.

Both options bring in $1 apiece for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

"On Valentine's Day, we'll sell more pizzas than any other day of the year," Shefchyk said.

As well, Shefchyk said if businesses want to hop aboard, they're welcome to call 925-4111 to set up special delivery of heart-shaped pizzas on Feb. 12 and 13.

To spread the love further, Boston Pizza has linked with the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission so the paper hearts are also being sold in all 50 Liquor Mart outlets in the province.

Steve McConnell, an MLCC manager, said that in the three years the hearts have been distributed through Liquor Marts, $264,000 has been raised from its customers.

"It's growing every year," he said.

"It's every Liquor Mart right up to Churchill. We're hoping to raise $90,000 this year. Our staff really get behind it. After all, Heart and Stroke touches everyone's lives."

Bayles said there are about 400 registered AED units throughout the province. Last year, there were only 80. Nine of the machines came directly from the Boston Pizza fundraiser, with more to come this year.

"Our ultimate goal is to have one with every fire extinguisher," she said.

"We want one in every building where the public gathers. That's why, with this campaign, every single dollar goes to saving lives."

Gay Kirby, of the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation, another charity supported by Boston Pizza, said the company is "just a wonderful community supporter.

"They have helped special-needs children in so many ways. They are really excellent examples of people in our community who really understand about giving back."

This month, the Boston Pizza Foundation passed a milestone: It has raised more than $10 million since its inception.

Cheryl Treliving, the foundation's executive director, said that's a long way from when the fundraising arm of the chain was set up after the success of heart-shaped pizza sales.

"It can only be done with the hard work of all of our franchisees and their staff," Treliving said.

"The heart-shaped pizza promotion was so successful, a franchisee affected by heart disease said there's a way of growing the business and giving back to the community.

"It's a win-win for everyone."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Here's where they're located

Locations of automated external defibrillators purchased by Boston Pizza (the 10th machine is still to be located): 

Perimeter Aviation -- Winnipeg

Creative Retirement -- Winnipeg

Golf Dome -- Winnipeg

Hope Centre Health Care -- Winnipeg

Brandon University athletic department -- Brandon

William Glesby Centre -- Portage la Prairie

Norplex Pool -- Thompson

St. Andrews Recreation Complex -- St. Andrews/Selkirk

Morden Friendship & Senior Services Activity Centre -- Morden

Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 30, 2010 C14