More than 500 ING DIRECT employees volunteer to rebuild a Toronto Community
Housing outdoor space … in one day

TORONTO, Oct. 19 /CNW/ -

WHAT: On Friday, October 22^nd, residents of 3847 Lawrence Ave. East will join more than 500 ING DIRECT employees as they transform the outdoor space around the Toronto Community Housing high-rise into a community hub. Organized by ING DIRECT and Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, the community-build involves revitalizing two existing playgrounds, community garden, community meeting spaces, basketball courts and a new soccer pitch - all to be built in one day!

WHEN:	Friday, October 22, 2010 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 10 a.m. - Kick off Ceremony
WHERE:	3847 Lawrence Ave. East (east of Scarborough Golf Club Rd)
WHO:	Peter Aceto, President & CEO of ING DIRECT Canada Bruce Sudds, Vice President of Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds Mitzie Hunter, Chief Administrative Officer of Toronto Community Housing
VISUALS:	500+ ING DIRECT volunteers clad in their 'Orange in the Community' t-shirts rebuilding the space.

DETAILS:

ING DIRECT employees along with Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and Toronto Community Housing will revitalize the community's existing two playgrounds, community garden, soccer pitch, basketball court, and community meeting spaces all in one day. The Toronto Community Housing residence is home to 800 people, while the outdoor spaces attract over 1,000 people from the adjacent residences. This is the third revitalization project by ING DIRECT and Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds. In September 2009, nearly 500 ING DIRECT employees helped build the city's first natural playground at McCleary Playground in Downtown Toronto.

About ING DIRECT
ING DIRECT is Canada's leading DIRECT bank with over 1.7 million Clients and more than $29 billion in total assets. ING DIRECT gives the power of saving to all Canadians by offering high-value, simple products such as high interest savings accounts with no fees or service charges, and low rates on mortgages. Low cost, index based mutual funds are sold through ING DIRECT Funds Limited. ING DIRECT has been operating in Canada since 1997, and paid more than $4.5 billion in interest to Clients. ING DIRECT is open for banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at ingdirect.ca, on mobile devices at m.ingdirect.ca or by calling 1-800 ING DIRECT (1-800-464-3473)

About Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds engages communities to re-imagine and rebuild their green space through better designs, partnerships, and programs that connect their children and adults to nature. The parks and playgrounds we create reflect the natural heritage of the site and the needs of the community through a collaborative and inclusive design process, a skilled team of installers and well orchestrated community builds. Rolling hills, curling pathways, and giant logs and boulders and trees define spaces filled with art, music, and nature. These are playgrounds without barriers where children and families are encouraged to explore their imagination and this is the place in our community where we form four critical bonds with nature and each other. Projects can be found in public parks and at schools and child care centres across Canada and the USA. For more information, please visit www.naturalplaygrounds.ca.

About Toronto Community Housing
Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes-about six per cent of the City of Toronto's population. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs, who deliver its mission to provide affordable housing, connect tenants to services and opportunities, and work together to build healthy communities.

For further information:

Lynnette Visaya, ING DIRECT, 416.758.5544, [email protected]

Bruce Sudds, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, 416.931.3643, [email protected]

Kyle Rooks, Toronto Community Housing, 416.688.8277, [email protected]