Village Gamer

Hilary Duff is joining forces with Duracell this holiday season to help thousands of children spending this special time of year in the hospital. The popular singer and actress has teamed up with the brand to encourage Canadians everywhere to power good and support a worthy cause. Duracell’s ‘Powering Holiday Smiles’ campaign will donate 20,000 batteries to hospitals across Canada in order to power lifesaving medical devices and the thousands of playroom toys and games that children and their families will be using this holiday season and beyond. In addition, for every pack of Duracell Quantum AA-16 batteries that Canadians purchase from November 22^nd to December 27^th, 2013, Duracell will donate $1 to Children’s Miracle Network (minimum of $25,000). 

“As a parent, I am proud to join Duracell’s campaign to power smiles this holiday season,” said Duff, a mother of one. “Helping children is a cause close to my heart, which is why I am also encouraging Canadians to get involved and make a difference. Let’s give kids a good reason to smile, by powering their hospital playrooms, and raising money for important programs and research”

As part of the Duracell Powering Holiday Smiles campaign, Duff took time out of her busy schedule to make an appearance at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. “It was great to visit with families who benefit from this program, and to watch so many little faces light-up as we handed out this year’s must-have toys.”

Hasbro, in partnership with Duracell, will donate toys, including favourites from the popular Furby, Furreal Friends and Sesame Street brands, all powered by Duracell batteries, to participating Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, two in Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John’s.

“This is Duracell’s seventh year of proudly donating to children’s hospitals across Canada, and this year with the generous support of Hilary Duff, our friends at Hasbro, and caring Canadians everywhere, we are aiming to power as many smiles as we possibly can,” said Victoria Maybee, Communications Manager, Duracell Canada. “Canadians can activate a $1 donation to Children’s Miracle Network simply by picking up Duracell Quantum AA-16 batteries this year between November 22 and December 27.”

“We know that Canadians are extremely compassionate during the holidays,” said John Hartman, Chief Operating Officer at Children’s Miracle Network. “With the support of Canadians and partners like Duracell, we can provide the funding needed to ensure that vital programs, equipment and research devoted to children’s health continue to thrive.”

There is so much to do this time of year and details can easily get overlooked, but there’s nothing more disappointing than a child receiving a toy on Christmas morning and finding out it is powerless. Duracell suggests that families stock up on batteries of various sizes and cautions against removing the batteries from emergency devices such as smoke alarms and flashlights to use in gifts.