Backstreet seats will aid relief

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Sep 20, 2001 Source: Calgary Sun - Submitted By: Gina Cates Backstreet seats will aid relief By CHRIS GERRITSEN, CALGARY SUN Calgary's Pengrowth Management wants to do its part to support the families of New York police officers who died in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Pengrowth, the title sponsor of the Saddledome, will auction off the 12 seats in their choice box in the arena for the sold-out Backstreet Boys second show next Thursday. The idea is the brainchild of Pengrowth president and CEO Jim Kinnear. "Jim felt this was incredibly important," says Richard Ballantine, Pengrowth's director of community relations. "Watching this on television you just felt so helpless and you think what can you do? Well, this is what you can do. There's 200 policemen and firefighters who died. There's children with no parent anymore. We felt they were the most innocent victims in this whole thing." Ballantine says Kinnear thought an auction for the New York police would be an appropriate way to give back to the community. "You can't ever make this go away, all you can do is do your part," says Ballantine. "And Jim believes by doing this he's doing his part." The bidding has already started. To get in on the auction action, call 213-6857 extension 230 and follow the steps. The message will tell you what the minimum bid is and if you want to increase that bid. Every hour on the hour, Ballantine will find out what the top bid is and update the message. Bidding closes Monday at 2 p.m. The highest bidder will make a cheque out to the Calgary Police Association, which will then forward the money to the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of New York, better known as the New York Widow's and Orphan's Fund. Comment on this item. Next Item: A message from Kevin Richardson Prev Item: Jackson Taps Britney,and Others For Song To Help Terrorism Victims