KRAFT CANADA MAKES A 'DELICIOUS DIFFERENCE' WITH WOODFORD PARK REVITALIZATION

Kraft Canada Employees, City of Toronto and Friends of Woodford Park work together to revitalize park's play area

TORONTO, Oct 5 /CNW/ - Contemporary accessible play structures, welcoming new seating areas and landscape features now adorn Etobicoke's Woodford Park thanks to the dedicated efforts of nearly 120 Kraft Canada colleagues along with Friends of Woodford Park and the City of Toronto.

"Access to wholesome foods and safe places to play are necessary for a child's healthy development, and working alongside the community today to create a vibrant place for children and families to play will have a tremendous impact on Woodford Park," said Dino Bianco, President of Kraft Canada.  "We've been promoting healthy and active lifestyles for many years and we're thrilled to help provide families a great place to play within walking distance of their homes."  

The park revitalization is part of Kraft's 'Delicious Difference' Week - a global week of service that will see approximately 14,000 Kraft Foods employees in 50 countries celebrate play and fight world hunger from October 4-9 through various projects in their communities. 

Here in Canada, the week is an important part of the company's United Way Days of Caring activities.  This year, more than 600 employees will assist with 25 community improvement projects across the country, including food sorts at the Daily Bread Food Bank along with meal assistance programs, garden clean-ups and playground landscaping.

CREATING A PARK THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART CAN ENJOY

The drive to revitalize the playground area in Woodford Park was a community-based project initiated by Friends of Woodford Park, who worked tirelessly to fundraise for the cause.  Through community events and door-to-door efforts, the group raised $7,000 towards the new equipment.  The City of Toronto contributed a further $43,000 including in-kind donations, and Kraft Canada provided the remaining $50,000 to help the community reach its $100,000 goal.  

"Public interest partnerships are playing an increasingly important role in enhancing the parks, playgrounds and overall liveability of our City. The City of Toronto is grateful for the support of Kraft Canada and the Friends of Woodford Park to renew this playground space that will provide new opportunities for young people to engage in physical activity and healthy play," said the Councillor for Ward 5 Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

With its rich ecological reserve and close proximity to Mimico Creek, the park is used by many families and local schools, who enjoy the open and accessible features it provides.  The new playground, along with new benches, plants and trees, now brings to fruition the community's goal to create an inclusive, fun and safe place for children to gather and play while learning about nature and the environment. 

"It is widely recognized that unstructured outdoor play is very important for a child's physical, emotional, social and cognitive development," said Janine Rechsteiner of Friends of Woodford Park.  "The entire community is so excited that Kraft shares in our vision that playgrounds matter and are providing the opportunity to have a great playground in walking distance for us."

Throughout the day, Kraft Canada colleagues, Friends of Woodford Park volunteers and City of Toronto employees worked together to construct the new playground structures.  Fourteen stations were set up throughout the park from planting to assembling - and after hours of tireless work, the new playground is now ready for use.

KRAFT FOODS SUPPORTS HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

While Kraft Canada may be best known for making delicious foods, the company also aims to make a difference in the community as part of their commitment to promote healthy lifestyles.  Around the world, the company contributes approximately $100 million annually in food and money to community organizations.  The company committed $180 million in the next three years to community involvement activities around the globe.  The expansion of its global employee volunteer efforts though the global "Make A Delicious Difference Week" is another example of Kraft Foods' stepped up efforts.  Delicious Difference Week 2010 is the largest employee volunteer event in the company's history.

ABOUT KRAFT FOODS

Kraft Foods is building a global snacks powerhouse and an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. With annual revenues of approximately $48 billion, the company is the world's second largest food company, making delicious products for billions of consumers in approximately 170 countries. The portfolio includes 11 iconic brands with revenues exceeding $1 billion - Oreo, Nabisco and LU biscuits; Milka and Cadbury chocolates; Trident gum; Jacobs and Maxwell House coffees; Philadelphia cream cheeses; Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; and Oscar Mayer meats. Approximately 70 brands generate annual revenues of more than $100 million. Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com; NYSE: KFT) is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.  In Canada, company brands include Kraft Dinner macaroni and cheese, Christie cookies and crackers, Kool-Aid and Del Monte beverages, Caramilk chocolate, Maynards candy, and Stride and Dentyne gum.

For further information:

Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation media line, 416-560-8726, [email protected]