Rogers Media to Support Shelter from the Storm Campaign

TORONTO, May 4 /CNW/ - Rogers Media is partnering with the Canadian Women's Foundation for the sixth consecutive year to raise funds for Shelter from the Storm, Canada's largest national fundraising campaign dedicated to ending violence against women, and inviting audiences to do "just 1 act" by making a donation to the campaign.

In support of the initiative, Rogers radio stations across Canada have donated airtime to promote the fundraiser and six of the stations will be hosting a radio-thon on Wednesday May 5 and Thursday, May 6.

Citytv is supporting the campaign through its local programs CityLine, Breakfast Television and CityNews at Six. On Tuesday May 4, CityNews at Six in Toronto will reveal what CHFI morning host, Erin Davis, learned after spending a night in a shelter. On May 5, CityLine, Citytv's daily lifestyle show, will dedicate a special episode to Shelter from the Storm in front of a studio audience comprised of women from local shelters, support workers, and volunteers. One woman from the audience will be selected for a make-over while stylist Lynn Spence will help four women prepare for their return to the work force and therapist Joe Rich will identify key signs of domestic violence. Breakfast Television in Toronto will broadcast live from the CHFI radio-thon with Live-Eye host, Jenn Valentyne on Wednesday May 5. Breakfast Television Vancouver host, Dawn Chubai will be at a Live-Eye location raising awareness for the campaign on Thursday May 6.

Throughout the radio-thon and Citytv broadcasts, audiences will be encouraged to make a donation either by calling in to the numbers listed below, by texting SHELTER to 45678 or by visiting www.shelterfromthestorm.ca. By making a donation, listeners and viewers will be helping to support community violence prevention programs and more than 400 shelters for abused women across Canada.

"We are pleased to be partnering with the Canadian Women's Foundation again for this important fundraising initiative helping women and their families in need" said Shannon Valliant, Vice President, Financial Operations, Rogers Media. "We hope that our viewers and listeners will tune in and consider a donation to the Shelter from the Storm Campaign."

"Every year in Canada up to 360,000 children witness violence in the home and nearly 100,000 women and children stay in a shelter," says Beverley Wybrow, President and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation. "Rogers support of the campaign helps to raise critical awareness about violence against women and provide a simple way for viewers and listeners to help. Just 1 act committed by each person becomes part of a nationwide movement that has big impact and helps break the cycle of violence."

Rogers Digital Media has also supported the campaign through online media across their key women's brands including Chatelaine.com, Flare.com and TodaysParent.com and using their social media presence across Facebook and Twitter to encourage audiences to take action for this cause.

Below is a list of participating radio stations, times and donation call-in numbers:

    
    Kingston: KROCK 105.7 - May 6, 6:00am - 6:00pm (dial 613-449-1750)
    Lethbridge: 107.7 The River - May 6, 6:00am - 6:00pm (dial 403-320-0107)
    Ottawa: 105.3 Kiss FM - May 6, 6:00am - 6:00pm (dial 613-750-1053)
    Sudbury: 105.3 EZ Rock - May 5, 6:00am - 6:00pm (dial 1-877-981-2434)
    Toronto: 98.1 CHFI - May 5, 6:00am - 10:00am (dial 1-877-981-2434)
    Winnipeg: 102.3 Clear FM - May 5, 6:00am - 7:00pm (dial 204-296-9372)
    

About Rogers Media:

Rogers Media Inc., a division of Rogers Communications Inc., (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), operates Rogers Broadcasting and Rogers Publishing. Rogers Broadcasting has 54 AM and FM radio stations across Canada. Television properties include 5 Citytv stations as well as five OMNI multicultural television stations. Rogers Sportsnet, Canada's live event leader, is comprised of four channels, all of which are available nationally and in high definition, and the Shopping Channel, is a televised and Internet shopping service. Rogers Publishing produces many well-known consumer magazines such as Maclean's, Chatelaine, Flare, L'actualité and Canadian Business, and is the leading publisher of a number of industry, medical and financial publications. All media properties are integrated with their own popular web sites. Rogers Media also owns The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and Rogers Centre, a year-round sports and entertainment facility.

For further information: Elizabeth Hunter, Rogers Communications Inc., [phone], [email protected]; Veronica Logue, Rogers Media Television, [phone], [email protected]