Local charities get a $230,000 boost from Loblaw Give a Little, Help a Lot™ and SMILE campaigns

WINNIPEG, Aug. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - Loblaw banner stores across Western Canada including Real Canadian Superstore®, nofrills®, Shop Easy®, Extra Foods®, Wholesale Club®, Loblaws®, and Your Independent Grocer® are pleased to announce that their Give a Little, Help a Lot™ and SMILE campaigns raised approximately $230,000 for local charities. In Western Canada stores raised the most money since the campaign's inception in 2008.

"Customers and employees donated generously to our Give a Little, Help a Lot™ and SMILE fundraising efforts and we are extremely grateful for their contributions," said Peggy Hornell, senior director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "These campaigns show that small acts, like donating a toonie at the cash register, can make a significant improvement to the livelihood of children in our community."

Since 2008, more than $5.4 million have been raised through the Give a Little, Help a Lot™ and SMILE campaigns to assist charities across Canada including KidSport™, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Breakfast for Learning, YMCA, IWK Health Centre, SickKids Hospital, London Children's Hospital, Children's Hospitals of Eastern Ontario, Janeway Children's Hospital, and Sport North Federation. Money raised goes towards nutrition programs and healthy meals, medical equipment and patient care, sport and recreational programs as well as kids' camps.

In Manitoba most of the funds from the campaigns go to KidSport™, an organization that provides financial assistance for sport registration fees and equipment to promote physical activity though sports like hockey and soccer.

"Our store colleagues feel a strong connection with the community organizations they chose to support," said Larry Ker, vice-president of operations, Real Canadian Superstore Manitoba. "We're proud of our stores and our customers for accomplishing the most successful campaign to date."

Loblaw's commitment to supporting Canada's communities focuses on four key areas, President's Choice^® Children's Charity, healthy active kids, feeding our neighbours and greening our communities.

About Loblaw Companies LimitedTSX: L

Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose - Live Life Well - puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations PC Financial® no-fee banking; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited

or to request an interview, please contact: 
Loblaw Public Relations
[email protected] or [phone]