Academy Award winner, actor, director and musician, Kevin Costner and Juno Award winner Canadian musician and humanitarian Tom Cochrane to play at 2012 TELUS World Skins

TELUS and IMG release new block of 500 tickets to sold out event, proceeds to go to the IWK Health Centre Foundation

HALIFAX, July 13, 2012 /CNW/ - TELUS announced today celebrities Kevin Costner and Tom Cochrane have signed-on to play the Monday and Tuesday morning Pro-Ams at the 2012 TELUS World Skins taking place at Glen Arbour Golf Course in Halifax, Nova Scotia July 29-31. TELUS will donate $500 for each eagle and $100 for every birdie that the celebrity teams and the five PGA player foursomes make during the Pro-Ams during the two days, with money raised going towards the IWK Health Centre Foundation, the benefiting charity for the annual golf tradition.

In addition, TELUS and IMG have released a new block of 500 tickets to the sold out 2012 TELUS World Skins with net proceeds going to the IWK, which provides critical and specialized care to women, children and families throughout the Maritimes.

"With the addition of well-known celebrities playing in the Pro-Am games, this year's event is sure to be one of the most memorable in its 20 year history," said Gen. (Ret.) Rick Hillier, Chair of the TELUS Atlantic Canada Community Board. "The money raised through the new block of 500 tickets and our celebrity players will ensure that TELUS leaves a significant charitable legacy in the Atlantic Canada community that will directly benefit children, women and families in the Maritimes."

The TELUS World Skins Game is a highlight of the Canadian summer sporting schedule for the country's most passionate golf fans and the community that hosts it. Including corporate and team member donations, TELUS World Skins has raised more than $10.4 million for a wide variety of important causes across Canada since 2001.

To purchase the new tickets for the Canadian golf tradition, please visit www.telusskins.com, or call 1-877-451-1221. Tickets are priced at $99 (plus applicable service fees) for a two-day pass, with a one-day pass for either day also available for $65 (plus applicable service fees).

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $10.5 billion of annual revenue and 12.7 million customer connections including 7.4 million wireless subscribers, 3.5 million wireline network access lines and 1.3 million Internet subscribers and more than 550,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $260 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.2 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

About IWK Health Centre Foundation
The IWK Health Centre Foundation helps sustain excellence in specialized care at the IWK for all Maritime families. Last year, generous donors contributed over $10 million to excellence in specialized care at the IWK, including neonatal and pediatric intensive care, women's health and mental health services for children and youth. Funds raised also support world-renowned researchers and the purchase of modernized technology and equipment. Together with donors, the IWK Foundation supported more than 16,000 inpatient visits and nearly 300,000 outpatient and emergency room visits in one year. Visit iwkfoundation.org for more information.

About IMG
IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG's areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging:  IMG College; IMG's Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art + Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing.  More information is available at www.imgworld.com.

Elisabeth Napolano
TELUS Media Relations
416-906-9830
[email protected]

Dave Haggith
IMG Canada
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]