/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Bone-chilling dip raises money for Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area/

This New Year's Day Toronto's polar bear dippers will plunge into 2016 at sub-zero temperatures

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2015 /CNW/ - Over 500 brave participants will once again dive into the icy waters of Lake Ontario at the 11th annual Toronto Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Beach on Friday, January 1^st, 2016. Hosted by the Toronto Polar Bear Club, this event will raise money to build safe and decent Habitat homes for low-income families living in the Greater Toronto Area.

Since 2005 the Toronto Polar Bear Dip has raised nearly $300,000 —funds that have gone directly towards the Habitat for Humanity GTA home building program. Habitat GTA mobilizes volunteers and community partners to help hardworking, low income families break the cycle of poverty through affordable homeownership. The 11th annual Toronto Polar Bear Dip aims to raise $65,000 this New Year's Day.

"There is no better way to ring in the New Year than to come together and brave the icy waters of Lake Ontario for a cause that directly affects those living within our community," says Ene Underwood, CEO of Habitat for Humanity GTA. "Dippers and supporters alike are making a bold statement for the cause of affordable homeownership while helping to make a difference in the lives of hard-working families."

Join Habitat GTA and the Toronto Polar Bear Club in this cold but charitable way to ring in 2016. Register right away to prove your brawn! You can sign up as an individual, create a team, or join a team. Don't dare dip? Be a team player and sign up to fundraise only (don't worry…polar bears and chickens get along!)

What: 11^th Annual Toronto Polar Bear Dip raising funds for Habitat for Humanity GTA

When: Friday, January 1^st, 2016 registration to begin at 10:30 A.M. - dip beginning at 12:00 P.M.

Where: Sunnyside Beach, 1755 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto ON

Who: Ene Underwood, CEO, Habitat for Humanity GTA, Hundreds of Polar Bear Dippers and spectators, Habitat volunteers, donors and community partners

***Media are invited to attend and interviews will be available***

Please visit http://torontopolarbear.com for more information on the Toronto Polar Bear Dip or visit http://www.habitatgta.ca/ for additional information on Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity GTA

Image with caption: "Habitat for Humanity GTA (CNW Group/Habitat for Humanity GTA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160101_C7286_PHOTO_EN_588890.jpg

Alexis Vivian, Communications & Public Relations Officer, Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area, 155 Bermondsey Road | Toronto, ON M4A 1X9, T: [phone] x 243 | Cell: [phone] | E: [email protected]