May 8, 2020
Dear Friends,
I am pleased to announce that all Magnotta stores now have a NEW batch of hand sanitizers that supports Lyme Disease research in Canada. This latest version has been produced in a larger size -- 750ml bottles compared to the 120ml bottles offered in our first release. With this larger size, you can attach a spray nozzle to the bottle or transfer the liquid into your own sanitizer bottles.
You can receive this 750ml bottle with a minimum $10 donation per bottle to the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases.
Anyone can receive our hand sanitizer. You do not have to be a Magnotta customer. You do not have to make a wine purchase in our stores. If you are a resident of our community, front line worker, doctor, nurse, firefighter or know someone in need of hand sanitizer, you can drop by any of our 13 locations and receive a bottle with a minimum $10 donation per bottle to the G. Magnotta Foundation for Vector-Borne Diseases.
A NEW BATCH. A NEW CAUSE.
All proceeds from this new release of hand sanitizers will support critical Lyme Disease research in Canada.
With COVID-19 isolation measures continuing, the arrival of spring will encourage more people to head outside for relief. Unfortunately, tick season is also around the corner. Ticks infected with Lyme bacteria can be everywhere in your everyday life. You can come across them while sitting in your backyard, gardening, walking with your family or your dogs, biking and jogging so please protect yourself against ticks.
The problem: Lyme Disease is in Canada but reliable testing isn't. Neither is adequate treatment.
This disease can attack your heart, brain, muscles, bones, digestive system, skin, eyesight, hearing and more. It can cause symptoms that mimic Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinsonism resulting in a prolonged misdiagnosis. However, the lack of reliable and accurate tests in Canada means many people are being missed. With inconclusive laboratory results, chances are you will be misdiagnosed with something else. Left untreated, you will continue to suffer for months, maybe years, and have no real answers.
Science is our weapon.
The G. Magnotta Foundation is the only non-profit organization in Canada with an exclusive focus on generating new knowledge about Lyme Disease through scientific investigation. The ground breaking research being done at the G. Magnotta Lyme Disease Research Lab at the University of Guelph will change the way Lyme Disease is tested and treated in Canada. Through your support, you will be part of the solution that addresses the root problem of Lyme Disease that's affecting countless Canadians.
Our hand sanitizer was conceived in a philanthropic and caring spirit to help our employees, customers and local community. Please do not re-sell it.
Thank you for your support. We hope you and your families stay safe and well.
Regards,
Rossana Magnotta
CEO, Magnotta Winery Corporation
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April 23, 2020
Dear Friends,
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL FOOD BANKS!
The public response to our complimentary hand sanitizers to raise money for our local food banks has been incredible. After producing almost 15,000 bottles in March, we asked for a minimum donation of $2 per bottle but your generosity exceeded our expectations. Because of your support, we have raised over $40,000 for food banks in the vicinity of our 13 stores. Well done, everyone!
Due to overwhelming demand, we are now sold out of our hand sanitizer. However, we are currently in the planning stages of producing a second batch in a new larger format. Details will be announced on our social media platforms when they become available.
With thanks and gratitude,
Rossana Magnotta
CEO, Magnotta Winery Corporation
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April 3, 2020
Dear Friends,
Now that our hand sanitizers have arrived at our stores, we're getting a lot of questions from the public so I want to give you the complete background story.
It started in March when I couldn't find any hand sanitizers to protect my employees. Within days, we went from "Do you think we can make hand sanitizers in our distillery?" to "Yes, we can!" after being lucky enough to find 15,000 plastic bottles and the necessary ingredients based on the World Health Organization's formulation. We tried to get more but there is a global shortage of these supplies. Once we secured 15,000 bottles, we knew we could now offer the hand sanitizers to our community as well.
We decided to absorb all the production costs, put the hand sanitizers in our stores and give out complimentary bottles with a minimum $2 donation per bottle, with all proceeds going to local food banks in the vicinity of our 13 retail stores. We chose this charity because we were concerned for those who could not put food on their table in this time of crisis.
But we were not prepared for the public's response when the word got out and immediately became inundated with requests for cases of our hand sanitizers.
Making hand sanitizers, however, is not our core business. We knew it would take us weeks to produce our entire run of 15,000 bottles in order to fulfill the fundraising commitment we have made to local food banks so thank you for your patience. Our production has now caught up with demand and we are able to offer a limit of 5 hand sanitizers per person, up from 1 per person when we first released this product.
Please rest assured that anyone can receive our hand sanitizer. You do not have to be a Magnotta customer. You do not have to make a wine purchase in our stores. If you are a resident of our community, front line worker, doctor, nurse, firefighter or know someone in need of hand sanitizer, you can drop by any of our 13 locations and receive up to 5 bottles with a minimum $2 donation per bottle to our local food banks. We are honoured to help everyone.
Our hand sanitizer was conceived in a philanthropic and caring spirit to help our employees, customers and local community. Please do not re-sell it.
Thank you for your understanding. We hope you and your families stay safe and well.
Regards,
Rossana Magnotta
CEO, Magnotta Winery Corporation