Building on its ongoing commitment to injury prevention, Insurance Bureau of Canada has donated $150,000 to the Brain Injury Association of Canada (BIAC).

The donation makes IBC the presenting sponsor of BIAC’s Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey series of fundraising events across Canada for the next three years.

“The insurance industry has a long history of supporting injury prevention – through our own community outreach programs and by supporting important events like this one,” says Mary Lou O’Reilly, vp, public affairs & marketing, IBC. “We are proud to help BIAC continue its commitment to improving the lives of all people affected by brain injuries,” she say.

Brain injuries are the number one cause of disability and death for Canadians under 45. Most brain injuries are preventable.

“We would like to thank IBC for becoming our new presenting sponsor,” says Shirley Johnson, BIAC president and a grandmother from Victoria, BC, who has three family members with brain injuries. “We are grateful for IBC’s support because it allows us to communicate to a broader audience the message that brain injury is preventable.”

The first event of the 2009 Hawaiian Oyster Odyssey series was held in Toronto Monday night. Promoting the prevention of brain injuries and raising funds to advocate for survivors, the events feature stories from survivors. There is at least one event scheduled in each province across Canada in 2009.

IBC is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers.

IE