Rio Tinto Alcan champions child healthcare through a $2.5-million donation to
the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation

MONTREAL, May 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Rio Tinto Alcan will donate $2.5 million over seven years to the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. The gift, from the group's Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund, is part of a larger donation to the McGill University Health Centre and will be directed to the foundation's The Best Care for Children Campaign, which raises funds for the construction of the new Montreal Children's Hospital at the new Glen Campus site.

"At Rio Tinto Alcan, we are deeply committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our communities," said Erik Ryan, senior vice-president, Communications and External Relations, Rio Tinto Alcan. "Like Rio Tinto Alcan, the Montreal Children's Hospital is an important part of the Montreal community and a leader in its field. With this donation, we are proud to recognise the outstanding care the Hospital has delivered to the citizens of Montreal since 1904. It is certainly an honour to support the construction of the new Children's Hospital, so that Montrealers will continue to have access to leading-edge care for many generations to come."

"On behalf of the patients at the Montreal Children's Hospital, I thank Rio Tinto Alcan for this very generous donation. This gift illustrates Rio Tinto Alcan's commitment to the future of paediatric care in Quebec, and demonstrates that they are a leader in the province's business community. I hope this gesture will inspire others to support the construction of the New Montreal Children's Hospital at the Glen Campus," said Marc Courtois, Chairman of The Best Care for Children Campaign.

The mission of the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation is to support excellence in care at the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. This objective is attained by contributing to the advancement of teaching and research and by the procurement of cutting-edge medical equipment.

Rio Tinto Alcan has been an integral contributor to Montreal's social fabric since it established its headquarters in the downtown core more than 80 years ago. Through the Rio Tinto Alcan Canada Fund, the group supports hundreds of Canadian organizations. Locally, this includes the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, BIXI, Centraide, and the Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan.

About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

For further information: Rio Tinto Alcan Media Relations: Stefano Bertolli, [phone], [email protected]; Bryan Tucker, [phone], [email protected]; www.riotintoalcan.com