Walmart Canada launches "Project Haiti Relief"

Retailer activates Canadian relief effort

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jan. 13 /CNW/ - Walmart Canada announced today the launch of Project Haiti Relief, a nationwide campaign to generate urgently needed funds for the massive relief effort underway in Haiti following yesterday afternoon's devastating earthquake.

Starting today, all 314 Walmart Canada stores will accept donations for the Haiti earthquake relief efforts. All money raised will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund. Walmart Canada is making a $100,000 donation to launch the campaign.

"When natural disasters strike, Canadians are moved to take action. We immediately implemented a national campaign to give Canadians from coast to coast a way to contribute much needed funds to those who need our help," said David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada .

The company will liaise closely with the Canadian Red Cross over the coming days and weeks to determine how the company and its associates can continue to help as the rebuilding effort in Haiti gets underway.

"Walmart Canada reached out to the Red Cross first thing this morning with an offer to raise money," said Conrad Sauvé, Secretary General of the Canadian Red Cross. "This is the kind of timely support that will provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to people devastated by the earthquake in Haiti ."

Donations can also be made directly to the Canadian Red Cross at www.redcross.ca/helpnow, by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office.

Walmart Canada is proud to be the largest corporate sponsor of the Canadian Red Cross. The CRC responds to more than 5,000 disasters in Canada each year, from house fires to community flooding. In 2009, Walmart Canada raised almost $2.5 million for the CRC for relief efforts in Canada , and also provided gift cards to the CRC to cover the cost of purchasing relief kits for families affected by disaster.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of 314 stores, serving more than one million Canadians each day. With more than 82,000 associates, the company is Canada's third-largest employer. In 2009, Walmart Canada's corporate culture was ranked among the 10 most admired corporate cultures in Canada by Waterstone Human Capital Inc.

For further information: Susan Schutta, Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada, [phone], ext. 8012