TORONTO, ONTARIO–( EMWNews – March 31, 2008) – George Chuvalo, former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion, and Albert Schultz, actor and founder of Soulpepper Theatre Company, will be honoured on April 2nd by the DareArts Foundation at its 2008 Leadership Awards ceremonies and gala fundraiser. The two will be presented with the 2008 Cultural Award in recognition of their outstanding work in helping disadvantaged youth raise their sights from guns and gangs.

DareArts is a not-for-profit organization whose arts education program empowers at-risk youth aged 9 to 14 in both ‘inner city’ and rural areas. Past recipients of the DareArts Cultural Award have included General R.J. Hillier, Madame Aline Chretien, the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Robert Gillespie, and Sonja and Tom Bata.

Six outstanding young “graduates” of the DareArts program, now in high school, will also be presented that evening with the DareArts Leadership Awards. One of the youth is from the northern aboriginal community of Webequie.

This year’s DareArts gala fundraiser will support education programming, allowing children to explore world cultures while they themselves paint, sculpt, sing, dance, compose, design, write, act and create, guided by arts professionals. The children gain leadership skills by returning to their schools and teaching their classmates what they have learned. Celebrating its 12th year, DareArts influences over 120,000 Canadian children annually.

Who:     George Chuvalo and Albert Schultz
         Performance by Michael Burgess

What:    DareArts Foundation Annual Gala and Awards Dinner

Where:   Fermenting Cellar and Thompson Landry Gallery, The Distillery
         District Toronto

When:    Press conference: 5:15 p.m., Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Why:     Presentation of DareArts Foundations' 2008 Cultural and
         Leadership Awards

Photo and interview opportunities with George Chuvalo, Albert Schultz and Marilyn Field, President of DareArts Foundation will be available at the event. Media unable to attend can schedule interviews by telephone. To register or for further information, please contact DareArts Foundation at 1-888-540-ARTS or 905-729-0097

Presenting Event Sponsors are Guy Carpenter, Lombard Insurance and Scotiabank. Other key sponsors are BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, HKMB-HUB International, TD Financial Group and Trillium Foundation.

George Chuvalo lost three sons and his wife as a result of substance abuse and suicide. Today, he travels across North America to share the story of what happens to a family when one of its members uses drugs. His graphic recollection of events and his expressive nature enable him to convey his powerful message. He invites the listener into his private life with the hopes of reaching those who are at risk, and leaves the youth with a message of hope. Chuvalo has made anti-drug presentations to over 1,000 schools, detention centres and parent groups. In 1998, Chuvalo received the Order of Canada in recognition of his dedication to Canada’s youth.

Albert Schultz is an actor and the founding Artistic Director of Toronto’s Soulpepper Theatre Company. Celebrating ten years of enriching our community, North America’s only year-round repertory company combines classical theatre, mentorship and training to inspire a new generation of artists and cultural leaders, while building an audience for the future of the arts. Under Schultz’s leadership, Soulpepper has produced nearly 70 productions, launched its Academy for the training of actors, built a new theatre, established a partnership with neighborhood education programs, including DareArts, and developed a strong youth outreach initiative. Schultz has received numerous awards including two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction as well as four Lieutenant Governor’s Awards. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Canadian Arts Summit and a member of the Artistic Advisory for Luminato.

About DareArts

DareArts is a Canadian charity whose arts education empowers ‘at risk’ children to become leaders. DareArts’ unique programs work with at risk 9-14 year olds in both ‘inner city’ and rural areas, including multiple Toronto Mega City areas. The children explore world cultures and history while they themselves paint, sculpt, sing, dance, compose, design, write, act and create, guided by arts professionals. The children gain leadership skills by returning to their schools and teaching their classmates what they have learned. Celebrating its 12th year, DareArts influences over 120,000 Canadian children annually. For more information, please visit www.darearts.com.