The Second Annual Black and Blue Charity Tip-Off will pit the Osgoode Owls against the University of Toronto Blues at the Air Canada Centre (ACC) on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 at 12.30 p.m.  Doors at the ACC will open at noon. Tickets are $10 each and will be on sale on the day of the game at the ACC outside Gate 1.  

Proceeds from the Black and Blue Charity Tip-Off, which is organized by Osgoode's student-run Legal & Literary Society and the University of Toronto Students' Law Society, will help support the Law Society of Upper Canada's Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program.  A total of $6,000 was raised from last year’s Charity Tip-Off for the program, which provides hot meals to Toronto’s homeless and needy.

“Lawyers Feed the Hungry unites all members of the legal community from judges to lawyers to law students,” said John-Paul Rodrigues, president of Osgoode’s Legal & Literary Society.  “In the same way, the Charity Tip-Off unites all law students in Toronto through the joint efforts of both Osgoode and the University of Toronto.”

Sabrina Kumar, Chair of the Black and Blue Charity Tip-Off Organizing Committee, added that “the Black and Blue Charity Tip-Off is an entirely student-run initiative that brings students together to raise money for a common cause, subsequently encouraging those at the beginning of their legal careers to begin helping their communities right from the start.”

Several law firms – Cassels Brock (Platinum Sponsor), Goodmans (Gold Sponsor), BLG (Silver Sponsor), Gowlings (Bronze Sponsor) as well as Blakes, Fasken Martineau, Heenan Blaikie. McCarthy Tétrault and Torys (Contributors) – are helping to sponsor the Charity Tip-Off, which will also feature a three-on-three faculty scrimmage at half-time between Osgoode and U of T professors. 

This year, under the watchful eye of retired Osgoode professor and honorary basketball coach R.J. Gray, the Owls, who were beaten by the Blues last year, hope to claim the Dean's Cup.   The first 300 fans will receive a commemorative "Black & Blue" T-shirt (sponsored by Cassels Brock) and will have the opportunity to win prizes such as a pair of courtside Raptors tickets (sponsored by Goodmans) and an autographed Raptors plaque (donated by the Toronto Raptors).  The BLG Post-Game Reception (sponsored by BLG) will take place at the Loose Moose Tap & Grill, 146 Front St. W., at University Ave.

In conjunction with the Charity Tip-Off, Osgoode and U of T law students also held a pub night on October 23 that raised $800 for Lawyers Feed the Hungry and another fundraiser called “Osgoode Idol” is planned for tomorrow night at the Big Bop Concert Hall, 651 Queen St. W., that will feature a special closing performance by the dynamic Toronto hip-hop/dance/electro duo Candy Coated Killahz.  Cover charge is $5, with proceeds going to Lawyers Feed the Hungry.   As well, about a dozen Osgoode and U of T students have volunteered their time to serve meals at the Lawyers Feed the Hungry Program in Toronto.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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For further information, please contact:

Virginia Corner

Communications Manager, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University

416-736-5820

vcorner@osgoode.yorku.ca