Canadian Tire celebrates Jumpstart Day on May 29th to help 20,000 kids get in
the game this summer

Canadian Tire stores across Canada donate $2 for every purchase to help kids in financial need participate in sport and recreation activities

TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ - Saturday, May 29th is Jumpstart Day and Canadian Tire stores across the country will raise funds to help financially disadvantaged kids take part in local sport and recreation activities. Today, one-in-three Canadian families cannot afford to include their children in organized activities and Jumpstart Day will help 20,000 kids get involved in community programs this summer.

In celebration of the initiative, Deputy Mayor, Joe Pantalone, will today officially declare May 29th as Jumpstart Day in the City of Toronto. To date, 13 cities including Halifax, Fredericton, Ottawa, Edmonton and Vancouver; as well as the provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia have declared Saturday, May 29 as Jumpstart Day.

For every customer purchase made at a Canadian Tire store on May 29th $2 will be donated to Jumpstart. Since 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped more than 250,000 kids participate in organized physical activity.

"Together with help from our customers, Canadian Tire Retail stores, Canadian Tire Petroleum sites and Mark's stores on Jumpstart Day, we can give more than 20,000 kids the opportunity this summer to be active, build self-esteem, social skills, and character." "Every child deserves a chance to play, run, skate and grow but, because of financial barriers, too many Canadian children are still sitting on the sidelines," said Dan Thompson, president of Canadian Tire Jumpstart. "Jumpstart was created to change that."

In addition to shopping at Canadian Tire stores on May 29th, Canadians can show their support online by going to Canadian Tire's Jumpstart Facebook Fan page (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63801235215&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=121404451223227&index=1) and confirm their attendance for Jumpstart Day. Canadians are also encouraged to follow Jumpstart on Twitter (http://twitter.com/ctjumpstart) to learn about how Jumpstart is making a difference in communities across Canada.

Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national, charitable program that helps kids aged four to 18 with financial need to participate in organized sports and recreation. The program helps cover the cost of registration, equipment and/or transportation. Since its launch in February 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped give more than 250,000 Canadian kids the chance to play.

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For further information: April Brown, [phone], [email protected]; Sarah Rodgers, [phone], [email protected]