DAREarts Announces Inaugural Patina Prize

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 22, 2014) -

Editors Note: There is one photo associated with this press release.

DAREarts announced today that along with Cultural Award Recipient Rick Mercer and six Leadership Award Recipients, Leslie Spence, 21, of Webequie First Nation will be honoured at the 2014 Leadership Awards. He will be the inaugural winner of the Patina Prize.

By awarding the Patina Prize annually, his family honours Mr. Patina's commitment to many charitable causes, including the DAREarts children, empowering thousands of young people nationally to ignite change in their lives as leaders.

The Patina Prize will provide a legacy for Richard Patina, long-term Chairman of the DAREarts Board of Directors, as DAREarts continues building as a national charity, reaching over 13,000 children yearly with the power of the arts to transform lives. Mr. Patina was also CEO of Lombard Canada Ltd., on the board of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and on the Board of Governors for Shaw Festival.

Yearly, $4,000 of the Prize will be divided equally to empower children directly through DAREarts programs in four regions of Canada: Nova Scotia; Rexdale, Ontario; Nishnawbe Aski First Nations in remote northern Ontario; and British Columbia. The final $1,000 of the Patina Prize will be awarded annually to one DAREarts graduate youth who has demonstrated particular need of these funds to further their post-secondary education. The family will work with the DAREarts President to make this choice. This first Patina Prize will be presented by Rick's wife, Judy Patina, and their two children, Derek and Melanie, at the DAREarts Leadership Awards gala, held in Toronto on Thursday, April 24^th, 6:30 pm at the Kool Haus, 132 Queen's Quay.

Marilyn Field, DAREarts Founder: "The Patina Prize will help us all gain from the strength of our memories of a man who took action to make a difference, and will DARE us all to do the same."

DAREarts Leadership Awards proceeds will benefit DAREarts' programs that empower 13,000 underserved 9-to-19 year-olds yearly to escape the cycle of poverty and become leaders. Six DAREarts graduates are also presented with Leadership Awards and scholarships for turning their lives around and igniting positive change in their communities.

Guests will enjoy dinner prepared by Presidential Gourmet, auctions, and entertainment by Newfoundland recording artist Barry Canning as well as teens in STOPP. Dinner will be interspersed with Awards presentations and the always-inspiring personal stories from the youth about how DAREarts has helped them change their lives for the better. New this year will be an 'AfterChill' party and dance at 9pm in Chroma following the Awards for both the guests and younger professionals.

DAREarts is a Canadian charity which stands for "Discipline, Action, Responsibility and Excellence". DAREarts' 5-year program works with 9-15 year olds from schools in high-priority neighbourhoods, empowering them to become leaders. Visit www.darearts.com for more information about DAREarts. Visit http://www.darearts.wordpress.com for up-to-date activities.

DAREarts thanks its lead supporters: Northbridge Insurance, Guy Carpenter, Scotiabank, TD, Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Trillium Foundation.

There will be an opportunity for media interviews/photos between 5-5:30 on April 24.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20140422-darearts_patina_prize_lg.jpg.