International Taoist Tai Chi Society members donate $100,000 to Fondation
Paul Gérin-Lajoie to rebuild schools in Haiti

MONTREAL, March 9 /CNW Telbec/ - The International Taoist Tai Chi Society has donated $100,000 to the Fondation Paul Gérin-Lajoie to rebuild schools in Haiti. The Society's Canadian president, Dave Frame, turned over the funds this weekend to the NGO's founder, the Honorable Paul Gérin-Lajoie, at a banquet celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Society with several federal MPs, members of Quebec's National Assembly, city councillors and NPO leaders in attendance.

The funds were raised from among the Society's 40,000 members in 26 countries worldwide. Of the $100,000 donated, some $68,000 is also eligible for a federal government matching grant.

Monsieur Gérin-Lajoie, aged 90, received a standing ovation from the 570 banquet guests as he made his way to the podium to deliver thanks to the Society, to state the Foundation's goals, and to reaffirm the fundamental role of education in fostering a healthy outlook on life for all. Both Mr. Frame and Foundation President, François Gérin-Lajoie reflected on how the charitable mission of each organization led quite naturally to this common project. Mr. Frame then proceeded to pin the emblem of the Society on Monsieur Paul's lapel - across from the insignae of the Order of Canada, of the Légion française and of the Order of the Lion (Senegal).

A former president of the Canadian International Development Agency, Paul Gérin-Lajoie, is a Rhodes Scholar and one of Canada's most decorated civilians for his international development initiatives. One of the fathers of the Quiet Revolution, he created, in 1960, Quebec's first Ministry of Education, prior to which no more than 20% of Quebeckers had an education level higher than grade school.

The International Taoist Tai Chi Society is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2010. It was in 1970 that Master Moy Lin-shin left Hong Kong to found the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Canada, a national registered organization (no. 119258655RR0001). The Society's mission is to promote well-being in the community through the practice of the Taoist Tai Chi(TM) internal arts of health. Over the years, it has branched out to 26 countries where its affiliated not-for-profit and charitable organizations group some forty thousand members. For more information about the aims and objectives of the Society, visit www.taoist.org.

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For further information: Bernard Voyer, [phone]