World Vision and NHL star Georges Laraque visit Montreal's Haitian community
school

MONTREAL, March 18 /CNW/ - World Vision and NHL veteran Georges Laraque took the Hockey for Haiti fundraising initiative to the students at Montreal's Louis-Joseph-Papineau School today.

As part of ongoing efforts to benefit World Vision's earthquake relief work in the wake of Haiti's devastating January earthquake, Laraque answered students' questions and explained the importance of providing emergency aid to the disaster-hit country.

"Meeting with the students today was a pleasure and it was truly uplifting to experience their enthusiasm and optimism for what we are doing to help Haiti," said Laraque, who was joined at the event by Isabelle Depelteau, Director, Vision Mondiale.

"Today's event was a great success and we are grateful for everyone's participation, from Georges and the NHL to the NHLPA and the very enthusiastic and welcoming students and staff of Louis-Joseph-Papineau School," said Depelteau.

NHL representative Ken Martin Jr. attended the event and presented a $100,000 cheque to the Hockey for Haiti initiative. "Today's donation will help some of the youngest victims and hopefully inspire others to do everything they can to aid the children of Haiti," said Martin, vice president of Community Affairs for the NHL.

The Hockey for Haiti initiative was started by Laraque, a Haitian-Canadian, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and World Vision Canada following January's earthquake.

ABOUT VISION MONDIALE: World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision has been working in Haiti for 30 years and has a staff of 800 in the country. Since the earthquake World Vision has reached over half a million people with life-saving food and emergency supplies. For more information, please visit WorldVision.ca.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT, Janie Mercky, Porter Novelli on behalf of Vision Mondiale, [phone], [phone] (mobile), [email protected]