Moncton's Mya Williamson Wins $10,000 Charity Donation at the NAPATouchdown Atlantic CFL game

MONCTON, NB, Sept. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Scotiabank today announced that Mya Williamson from Moncton has been named the Scotiabank Atlantic Game Changer at the CFL's NAPA Touchdown Atlantic game in Moncton, where the Montreal Alouettes faced off with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  Mya Williamson will be recognized on the field at the big game for the outstanding work that she has done in the community and $10,000 will be awarded to her chosen charity, IWK Health Centre Foundation, which is in Halifax.

"We want to congratulate Mya Williamson for being our first Scotiabank Game Changer in Atlantic Canada," said Martin MacCool, Scotiabank Vice President of East New Brunswick and PEI District. "This program means so much to us at Scotiabank because it allows communities to highlight local heroes who devote themselves to making their communities and this province a better place. Mya is a tremendous example of how one person can make a truly meaningful difference to the lives of the people in their community."

Mya Williamson, age eight, is a dedicated supporter of the IWK Children's Hospital. She has been treated at the hospital over the years as an endocrinology, kidney, gastrointestinal and brain tumor patient. Her goal is to give back to those who have helped her and help save other children's lives by fundraising for the hospital and the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.

She began helping her community at the early age of three when she gave her piggy bank to the IWK Radio Telethon. Mya has continued to raise money over the past four years for the hospital and this year donated over $3300 to help with the purchase of specialized medical equipment. As well, this past spring, along with her family, she participated in the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada Spring Sprint in Fredericton, NB, raising $3100 for brain tumor research.

"I was crying a little when I found out [about the win], then I was really happy. The hospital helped me a lot and I wanted to help them," says Mya Williamson, a big football fan who will be attending her first game at Touchdown Atlantic.

In the five weeks leading up to NAPA Touchdown Atlantic, Scotiabank Game Changers were nominated by their peers in the community. The public voted for their favourite Game Changer online. Mya Williamson was selected as the Scotiabank Atlantic Game Changer based on a combination of fan voting and a judging panel.

In addition to $10,000 for IWK Health Centre Foundation and on field recognition at the Touchdown Atlantic CFL game, Mya Williamson won a VIP NAPA Touchdown Atlantic Game experience for four.

During the CFL regular season, Scotiabank will recognize 24 Scotiabank Game Changers across sponsored markets and provide each of them with a $1,000 donation to the registered charity or registered non-profit organization of their choice.

Starting September 23, fans in Edmonton, Saskatchewan and Hamilton will have the chance to vote for their favourite Scotiabank Game Changer finalist. Based on a combination of fan voting and a judging panel, three regional winners will each receive $25,000 for their designated charity and other great prizes.

For more information about the Scotiabank Game Changers program, go to www.ScotiabankGameChangers.com, on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @ScotiaCFL  #sbgamechangers.

About Scotiabank:

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad, through our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank Bright Future.  Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has provided on average approximately $47 million annually to community causes around the world over each of the last five years. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.

SOURCE Scotiabank

Image with caption: "Eight year old Mya Williamson was named the Scotiabank Game Changer on-field at the CFL's NAPA Touchdown Atlantic game in Moncton where she was awarded a $10,000 donation to IWK Health Centre Foundation in Halifax. Presenting is Scotiabank Vice President of East New Brunswick and PEI District Martin MacCool. (Photo credit Gilles Daigle). (CNW Group/Scotiabank)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130921_C8626_PHOTO_EN_31164.jpg