Support Cardiovascular Care with a Valentine's Share a Heart Bouquet!
Published Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Looking for that last-minute Valentine's Day bouquet this Heart Month?
Three local florists can help you show your love in two ways with the “Share a Heart” Bouquet! You get a beautiful, one-of-a-kind bouquet for your someone special, and you also support local cardiovascular care.
“My vision for “Share a Heart” has always been about giving and sharing,” says Bryan MacKay, who organized the fundraising event five years ago. “Giving flowers because you care and sharing by donating to a worthwhile cause is like the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular campaign. The campaign will help bring cardiac care closer to home for families impacted by heart disease in Thunder Bay and the region.”
Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers Thunder Bay, Rollason Flowers, and Vaillant Florists all offer their own version of the Share a Heart Bouquets for Valentine's Day. Specially arranged bouquets are $40 with ten per cent going directly to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation to support cardiovascular care in Northwestern Ontario.
MacKay first launched the Share a Heart Bouquet fundraiser in 2019. His father died of heart disease when MacKay was only 25, so raising money to help prevent Canada's number one killer seemed like an obvious choice, he said. Raising money for local cardiovascular care was especially important to him.
“I was fortunate to have the support of local florists who enthusiastically supported the vision and were willing to donate a portion of the proceeds from each “Share a Heart” bouquet to the campaign,” MacKay says.
Daniela Cristoforo and Phyllis Lento, co-owners of Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers Thunder Bay (807-475-7673), said they too wanted to support local healthcare.
“We enjoy being a part of this fundraiser because we can help support a good cause by putting smiles on people's faces. Cardiovascular care is very important in this community, so every dollar helps,” they said. “Our fresh, vibrant and colourful Share a Heart bouquets are sure to put a smile on anyone's face as well as a warm heartfelt feeling to anyone receiving them during this wonderful season of love.”
The campaign is near and dear to Josy and Jim Vaillant at Vaillant Florists (807-345-4245) for whom cardiovascular disease is very personal. Both sides of their family have heart issues. Josy's father Sergio Ricci passed in June 2020 of congestive heart failure, and Jim's father Reg Vaillant, passed away in 2015.
“We are very proud to be involved with this campaign. It is important to have closer-to-home cardiovascular care.” According to Josy, their bouquet is a colourful mix of daisies, roses, carnations, baby's breath and greens, cut and wrapped.
Debbie Drebit, manager at Rollason Flowers (807-623-0513), says they are offering a beautiful assortment of fresh cut flowers with a rose in every bouquet. “We are honoured to once again be included in the Share a Heart fundraiser for the cardiovascular program to help raise money for our local hospital,” says Debbie. “Being treated and cared for at home with family by your side is an important part of the recovery process.”
Learn more about this year's Share a Heart Bouquets and the florists who created them at: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/shareaheart.
Please request the “Share a Heart” bouquet when your order.