Support the Helping Kids Live Life Well™
Icon Sale and help children in your
community
BRAMPTON, ON, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - (TSX: L) -
Starting today until March 17, 2012,
customers shopping at Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) corporate
and participating franchise stores are encouraged to purchase
$2 Helping Kids Live Life
Well™ paper icons at store check-outs in support
of the President's Choice®
Children's Charity. As Loblaw's corporate charity, and one of the
largest charities in Canada,
President's Choice® Children's Charity is
focused on childhood nutrition and children with disabilities. All
funds generated within each region go back to support families and
nutrition programs throughout that region's communities.
"In 2011, President's Choice® Children's
Charity granted $13.35 million -
supporting more than 4,000 nutrition programs and providing grants
to more than 1,800 families whose children have disabilities," says
Peggy Hornell, senior director,
President's ChoiceÒ Children's Charity.
"This year we're looking forward to working with our customers to
raise $2.2 million."
As one of its funding priorities, President's
Choice® Children's Charity supports
nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack programs. The Charity
understands that nutrition is fundamental to children's health and
that a well-nourished child is likely to learn better, so it aims
to provide the resources to help fuel a better learning
environment.
"Due to generous support from the President's
Choice® Children's Charity, we have been able to
offer our students a hot and nutritious breakfast every morning.
One thing that really stands out, besides the students' enjoyment
of the food, is their sense of family and community. We have also
noticed an improvement in their classroom behavior and being
punctual for school," says Pam
Ainscough, child and youth counselor, Parkinson Centennial
Public School, Orangeville,
Ontario.
Another funding priority for the Charity is providing financial
grants for essential specialized equipment and therapists for
families whose children have disabilities - like David, who is 13
years-old and lives in Alberta.
David has degenerative peroxisomal disorder. He is a cheerful boy
who is determined to make the best of everyday despite his
disability. With a grant from President's
Choice® Children's Charity, David's family
was able to purchase a new wheelchair for him.
"We thank the President's Choice® Children's Charity for
their generous gift," says David's mother. "We are grateful for all
the support and care provided by the Charity in assisting us with
David's needs and helping us to make life easier for him. The grant
has given him a lot more freedom to enjoy life - something every
child deserves despite their disability."
Loblaw created President's
Choice® Children's Charity to empower
its store colleagues, franchisees and their employees to support
families in communities where the Company has retail locations.
Since 1989, the charity has awarded more than $72 million, reaching more than 10,000 Canadian
families. The costs of the Charity's administration and operations
are fully funded by Loblaw, ensuring that 100 per cent of every
dollar donated goes directly to helping children with disabilities
and nutrition programs in the regions where the money is
raised.
Making a Positive Difference in the
Community is one of the five corporate social responsibility
principles that shape the way Loblaw conducts business. Fundraising
initiatives in support of President's
Choice® Children's Charity is just one
example of how Loblaw continues to be active in communities on
national, regional and local levels. This includes a bi-annual
national food drive in partnership with Food Banks Canada to
address hunger across Canada, a
partnership with WWF-Canada to mobilize Canada to take environmental action and
support to a number of local charitable organizations across the
country.
Donations can be made at the following Loblaw corporate and
franchise store locations: Loblaws®,
Zehrs®, Your Independent
GrocerTM, valu-mart®,
Fortinos®, Real Canadian
Superstore®, Real Canadian Wholesale
Club®, Extra Foods®,
nofrills®, Atlantic
Superstore®, Dominion®
(Newfoundland and Labrador only), SaveEasy®,
Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®,
Provigo®, Cash & Carry®,
Club Entrepot® and Les Entrepots
Presto®.
For more information about President's
Choice® Children's Charity and to
apply for a grant please visit www.pc.ca/charity or call
1-866-996-9918.
About President's
Choice® Children's
Charity
President's Choice® Children's Charity
helps Canadian children live to their full potential. They are
committed to supporting children's health and wellness across
Canada. With a focus on
childhood nutrition and children with disabilities, President's
Choice® Children's Charity helps kids through
grants for childhood nutrition programs and provides support for
families with a child with a disability. The cost of administration
and operations of the Charity is funded by Loblaw Companies
Limited, ensuring that 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes
directly to helping kids and their families. The Charity
offers funding across Canada and
dollars are granted in the region in which they are
raised. Since 1989, the charity has awarded more than
$72 million, reaching more than
10,000 Canadian families. For more information on President's
Choice® Children's Charity or to donate online,
visit www.pc.ca/charity.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited,
is Canada's largest food retailer
and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and
financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest
private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and
franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees
employ more than 135 000 full-time and part-time employees. Through
its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing
Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and
services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian
consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of
its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label
program, including the unique President's
Choice®, no name® and
Joe Fresh® brands.
In addition, the Company makes available to consumers
President's Choice Financial® services and offers
the PC® points loyalty program.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited