BC Dairy and Alberta Milk are matching up to $100,000 each in holiday donations to both the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation for their “Gingerbread Barn Match” campaign.

The non-profits launched the campaign, by One Twenty Three West, to increase awareness of their partnership and encourage donations.

“This contribution is our way of supporting the efforts of both BC and Alberta’s Children’s Hospital Foundations,” says Carolyn Hornell, director of community engagement at BC Dairy. “These donations will help give specialized care to the kids who need it most.”

The barns stand in West Vancouver’s Park Royal Shopping Centre and Calgary’s Chinook Centre. Hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies are handed out to shoppers who pass by the eight foot tall barn, which is made with real gingerbread. A film is intended to help demonstrate how collective efforts “can help make holidays a little sweeter.”

“Growing up, one of our team’s most cherished holiday memories was building gingerbread houses with their families – in fact, they used to wish they could build one big enough to live in,” says Ryan Semeniuk, One Twenty Three West creative director. “So we used a bit of holiday magic to create a sweet snack, a reminder to donate and a big nod to one of our favourite family moments all under one roof.”

Stuart Craig, director of partnerships and provincial engagement at BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, stresses the importance of partnerships like these ones. “This funding will help to provide equipment for the growing bodies of children, attract the brightest minds in pediatric research and clinical care, and enhance facilities, programs and initiatives that ensure we are giving kids across B.C. the best health care possible,” he says.

Liz Ballendine, VP with Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, says the support of such initiatives means work can continue on funding crucial programs, technology and expertise.

The campaign is being rolled out a via 30-second video and cut-downs through digital and social channels, and runs until Dec. 31.

Wildfire helped build and manage the Gingerbread barn activation and Laura Ballance Media Group is handling PR.