$400,000 donation will "provide life-saving support to Haitian children,"
says UNICEF president

Nigel Fisher , president, UNICEF Canada , accepts donation at Feb. 9 board meeting

TORONTO , Feb. 5 /CNW/ - Peel District School Board students and staff raised almost $400,000 during a board-wide Send Hope to Haiti campaign. Schools planned a variety of fundraisers in support of UNICEF Canada , raising $390,000 . The remaining $10,000 was donated to other charities. Nigel Fisher , president and CEO of UNICEF Canada , will attend the regular meeting of the board on Feb. 9 to accept the donation and provide an update on UNICEF's relief efforts in Haiti .

"Our students, staff and families are always quick to respond when disaster strikes in other areas of the world," says Judith Nyman , director of education, interim. "The dedication to help those in need is impressive, and I extend a sincere thanks to all of our staff and students for pitching in and working together for this cause."

"UNICEF Canada is extremely grateful to receive this fantastic donation from the Peel District School Board," says Fisher. "Thanks to the enormous generosity of Peel's staff, students and their families, UNICEF can immediately provide life-saving support to Haitian children and, over the long-term, work towards transforming the lives of the children of Haiti ."

Since 1999, Peel board students, families and staff have worked together to raise more than $1.13 million to help communities around the world affected by natural disasters:

    
    -  In 2009, almost $12,000 was raised for the three separate natural
       disasters in the Asia-Pacific.
    -  In 2008, $37,000 was raised for victims of the Myanmar Cyclone and
       schools worked together to support Earthquake victims in China.
    -  In 2005, Peel schools raised $500,000 for assist victims of the South
       Asian tsunami and nearly $17,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
    -  In 2004, Peel schools raised $11,600 for Caribbean hurricane relief.
    -  In 2002, the Peel board raised over $90,000 for India earthquake
       relief and $70,000 to assist victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
    -  In 1999, students collected donations, clothing and personal items to
       support the Kosovo relief fund.
    

The Peel board serves 150,000 students in kindergarten to grade 12. Operating 235 schools in the municipalities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga, the Peel board is the largest employer in Peel. The board's annual budget is $1.3 billion . For more information, visit the board's website at www.peelschools.org.

For further information: Media contacts: Brian Woodland, Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, [phone], ext. 2812, [email protected]; Reference: Alison Farbar, School Communications Specialist, [phone], ext. 2098, [email protected]