University of Calgary Students Donate Nearly $30,000 to Children's Wish Foundation of Canada

CALGARY, AB--(Feb 7, 2012) - On December 8, 2011, students in a University of Calgary sales management course headed by Professor Derek Hassay at the Haskayne School of Business donated $29,392 to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. The donation was made possible through a program within the course called Selling Smiles 101, implemented by Dr. Derek Hassay. Selling Smiles 101 is a partnership between the class and Vector Marketing Corporation, the direct sales division of Cutco Cutlery Corporation, the largest manufacturer and single level direct seller of kitchen cutlery in North America. Proceeds for the Children's Wish Foundation are raised from the sale of Cutco as part of the class's experiential approach to teaching sales.

The majority of the $29,392 donation will enable a 6-year-old-boy named Chance, who suffers from a congenital heart defect known as Tetralogy of Fallot (CHD), to visit Disney World this spring with his family and a very special friend -- the aunt of Chance's friend, Wyatt, who recently lost his battle with CHD. The fundraising effort was so successful that there was enough money to help fulfill the wish of another child, Emily, to travel to a Disney resort in Hawaii.

Chance's first year of life consisted of emergency airlifts to major hospitals and weeks of not knowing whether he would survive. In addition to several emergency surgeries, at just six months old, Chance underwent his first open heart surgery, which lasted 11 hours. Amazingly, Chance conquered everything life threw at him and responded well to all the therapies. For the next three years he had very few complications but then, at four years old, he experienced heart failure once again. His second open heart surgery was a success and he amazed his doctors by running and playing just two days later. Chance continues to beat the odds today and is thriving.

"I am so proud of everyone in the class. Each student sold a product, which resulted in both a very successful learning experience as well as a very meaningful donation to the Children's Wish Foundation and a special little boy," said Hassay. "I am also grateful to Vector Marketing Corporation, who are always willing to give their time to help train the students to sell Cutco. The partnership between this class and Cutco/Vector, now in its sixth year, has brought an entirely new dimension to helping the students learn sales through motivating them to give back to those less fortunate."