David Foster Foundation and TELUS partner to increase organ donor awareness

TELUS CEO Darren Entwistle named National Philanthropy Business Leader of the Year

TORONTO, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - Tonight, the David Foster Foundation and TELUS will announce a partnership to increase organ donor awareness in Canada.  Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO, will make the announcement during the Foundation's sold-out gala event this evening in Toronto.

The star studded evening will feature Lionel Richie, Charice and Peter Cetera. At the event, Entwistle will also be recognized with the National Philanthropy Business Leader of the Year Award for his leadership and TELUS' outstanding community involvement.

"TELUS team members across Canada are committed to the Be a Donor Save a Life program which encourages people to register to become organ donors in their province," said Entwistle. "When TELUS team members, Ambassadors and Community Boards set their sights on making a difference, they are passionate and united in their pursuit of this goal. We stand as one behind the heroic efforts of the David Foster Foundation."

"It will be a privilege to accept the National Business Philanthropy Leader award on behalf of all 35,000 TELUS team members," said Entwistle. "Our company is humbled by the magnitude of what the TELUS team has accomplished thus far and we are honoured to receive this exceptional award.  I am indebted to the entire TELUS team for their tireless efforts to give where we live and make positive and long-lasting impacts in our communities."

"We are so pleased to have TELUS on board with the Be a Donor program," said David Foster, chairman and founder. "TELUS' dedication to the communities it serves is truly amazing. This will, without a doubt, help boost the number of registered organ donors in Canada."

The Be a Donor corporate challenge encourages organizations to talk to their employees about becoming registered organ donors in Canada.  Currently, 85 per cent of Canadians feel that organ donation is beneficial but only 14 per cent are registered as donors.

About the David Foster Foundation
The David Foster Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support to Canadian families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants. In addition to helping families with their non-medical expenses, the Foundation strives to increase organ donor registration through public awareness campaigns. The Foundation provides funding for non-medical expenses for the families of children needing life-saving organ transplants.

For more information about the foundation, please visit davidfosterfoundation.org.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.7 billion of annual revenue and 12.1 million customer connections including 6.9 million wireless subscribers, 3.8 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers and 266,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $185 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 3.5 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Nine 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.

For further information:

Kathy Baan
David Foster Foundation
250-893-0424