President's Choice® Children's Charity awards $2.6 million to Breakfast for Learning for the 2011/2012 school year

Award part of overall donation and three year commitment of $7.2 Million

BRAMPTON, ON, Jan. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - As part of a $7.2 million donation to Breakfast for Learning announced in 2010, President's Choice^® Children's Charity is awarding $2.6 million to the organization to fund 4,523 programs across Canada for the 2011/2012 school year. These funds will support education and research programs, and student nutrition programs that aim to give students access to healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Loblaw Companies Limited's (Loblaw) corporate and participating franchise stores have partnered with schools in their local community to assist with their nutrition programs.

"We know that good nutrition is fundamental to our children's health and that well-nourished children learn better. President's Choice^® Children's Charity is committing significant resources to help Canadian children live to their full potential. The Charity supports children's health and wellness with a focus on childhood nutrition and children with disabilities," said Galen G. Weston, chair of President's Choice^® Children's Charity and executive chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited.

Research shows that well-nourished students show improved memory, problem-solving skills and creative abilities - overall, they perform better in school. With generous supporters like President's Choice^® Children's Charity, Breakfast for Learning's funds will serve approximately 425,000 children across the country. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Breakfast for Learning works in partnership with Kids Eat Smart Foundation and in Quebec, Breakfast for Learning provides funding to Club des petits déjeuners, in addition to providing direct program funding in both provinces.

"President's Choice^® Children's Charity's generous support is so critical to our overall goal of providing children with a healthy start to life by supporting programs that make sure students do not go to school hungry," said Wendy Wong, president and CEO of Breakfast for Learning. "By providing nutritious food for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and by teaching children about the importance of nutrition, together we will help them establish the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle that will last throughout their lives."

As the national premier sponsor of Breakfast for Learning, President's Choice^® Children's Charity's support for the organization is just one part of the Charity's vision of improving the lives of children across Canada. President's Choice^® Children's Charity is also dedicated to helping children who are physically or developmentally challenged. Families can receive individual grants of up to $20,000 to assist with the costs of equipment, home accessibility, respite care, developmental and physical therapy and accessible vehicles. In 2011, the Charity granted approximately $10 million to more than 1,800 families with children with disabilities across Canada.

Loblaw is committed to being active in communities at the local, regional and national levels and the Company views this as an integral component to the success of its business. A commitment to Make a Positive Difference in Our Community is one of five Loblaw corporate social responsibility principles that shape Loblaw's approach to business. The other social responsibility principles include Respect the Environment, Source with Integrity, Reflect our Nation's Diversity and Be a Great Place to Work.

About Breakfast for Learning
Breakfast for Learning was founded in 1992 as the first and most comprehensive national organization in Canada dedicated to the direct support of school nutrition programs and the healthy development of children and youth. Having served more than 350 million meals to date, Breakfast for Learning continues to utilize a community development model with over 30,000 volunteers who deliver breakfast, lunch and/or snack programs across the country. For more information about Breakfast for Learning and its partnership with President's Choice^® Children's Charity visit www.breakfastforlearning.ca.

About President's Choice^® Children's Charity
Helping Kids Live Life Well™ - President's Choice^® Children's Charity is committed to helping children across Canada, with a focus on children with disabilities and childhood nutrition. The Charity supports children with disabilities directly through financial grants and as the National Premier Sponsor of Breakfast for Learning shares a vision dedicated to improving the lives of children. The cost of administration and operations of the Charity is funded by Loblaw Companies Limited, ensuring that 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to helping kids and their families.  The Charity offers funding across Canada and dollars are granted in the region in which they are raised.  Since 1989, the Charity has awarded more than $58.6 million, reaching more than 8,400 families.  For more information on the President's Choice^® Children's Charity or to donate online, visit www.pc.ca/charity.

About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 136,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice^®, no name^® and Joe Fresh^® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial^® services and offers the PC^® points loyalty program.

Loblaw Public Relations Department
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