PRESIDENT'S CHOICE® CHILDREN'S CHARITY MAKES LIVES EASIER FOR CHILDREN WITH
DISABILITIES IN CANADA

Support the Give a KID a SMILE A Toonie at a Time Icon Sale
and help a family in your community

BRAMPTON, ON, Sept. 10 /CNW/ - Starting today until September 25, customers shopping at Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) corporate and participating franchised stores can purchase $2 Give a KID a SMILE A Toonie at a Time paper icons at store checkout in support of President's Choice® Children's Charity. President's Choice® Children's Charity is committed to removing the obstacles that make everyday life difficult for children by providing financial grants to families whose children have been diagnosed with a broad range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and various developmental delays.

The goal of this national campaign is to raise $1.9 million. Funds generated from each province stays in the province where it was raised and goes back to support families in that province's communities. During this period, Loblaw also hosts a colleague and franchise employee campaign drive to raise funds for the Charity. In addition, the colleague and employee contributions are matched with a corporate donation from Loblaw up to $1 million.

Grants from President's Choice® Children's Charity assist families with the costs of equipment, home accessibility, respite care, developmental and physical therapy and accessible vehicles. Store level fundraising initiatives, like the bi-annual Give a KID a SMILE A Toonie at a Time campaign, support the Charity and help provide children with the resources they need to build their independence.

"There are thousands of children in Canada with a physical or developmental disability. During this Give a KID a SMILE A Toonie at a Time campaign a donation of $2 can positively change the life of a child with a disability and provide their family with the support they need to care for their child," says Peggy Hornell, senior director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "Earlier this year, we raised more than $1.8 million for the Charity and with the generosity of our customers, Loblaw colleagues and franchise employees we know we can do it again!"

Earlier this year, President's Choice® Children's Charity provided a family in Nova Scotia with a financial grant. The grant will assist the family to redesign features in their home to make it wheelchair accessible for their 16-year-old daughter Amy, who was diagnosed as a C 6/7 quadriplegic following a serious car accident.

"We thank President's Choice® Children's Charity for their generous gift," say Amy's parents. "We are grateful for all the support and care provided by the Charity in assisting us with Amy's needs and helping us to make life easier for her. The grant will provide a lot more freedom and independence for Amy to move around her home safely."

Loblaw created President's Choice® Children's Charity to empower its store colleagues and franchise employees to support families in communities where the Company has retail locations. Since 1989, more than 46 million dollars has been granted to families across Canada making it one of the largest corporate charities in the country. The costs of the Charity's administration and operations are fully funded by Loblaw, ensuring that 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to helping children with disabilities in the provinces where the money is raised.

Making a Positive Difference in the Community is one of the five corporate social responsibility pillars that shape the way Loblaw conducts business. Fundraising initiatives in support of President's Choice® Children's Charity is just one example of how Loblaw continues to be active in communities on national, regional and local levels. This includes a bi-annual national food drive in partnership with Food Banks Canada to address hunger across Canada, a partnership with WWF-Canada to mobilize Canada to take environmental action and support to a number of local charitable organizations across the country.

Donations can be made at the following Loblaw corporate and franchised store locations: Loblaws®, Zehrs®, Your Independent Grocer®, valu-mart®, Fortinos®, Real Canadian Superstore®, Real Canadian Wholesale Club®, Extra Foods®, nofrills®, Atlantic Superstore®, Dominion® (Newfoundland and Labrador only), SaveEasy®, Maxi®, Maxi & Cie®, Provigo®, Cash & Carry®, Club Entrepot® and Les Entrepots Presto®.

If you have a child with a disability you may qualify or pass along information about President's Choice® Children's Charity to a family you know who could benefit from a grant. For more information about President's Choice® Children's Charity and to apply for a grant please visit www.pc.ca/charity or call 1-866-996-9918.

About President's Choice® Children's Charity
President's Choice® Children's Charity is dedicated to helping children who are physically or developmentally challenged. Our aim is to remove some of the obstacles that make everyday living extremely difficult and to provide these young people with a renewed sense of dignity, independence and freedom. President's Choice® Children's Charity also addresses hunger and is now the National Premier Sponsor of Breakfast for Learning. Cost of administration and operations of the Charity is funded by Loblaw Companies Limited, ensuring that 100% 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 over $46 million, reaching over 6,500 families. For more information about 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 distributor 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 over 138,000 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 Style® brands. In addition, the Company makes available to consumers President's Choice Financial® services and offers the PC® points loyalty program.

For further information:

Loblaw Public Relations Department, 905-459-2500 or [email protected]