Don Cherry and Ontario Bingo Centres team up to give away $200,000 jackpot and benefit charities

    TORONTO, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - With a $200,000 Grand Prize and Don Cherry, Bingo
Centres across the province are gearing up for a night of excitement. The
Ontario Bingo Development Fund (OBDF) is presenting Bingo Night in Ontario, an
exciting event linking the majority of Bingo Centres across the province. Don
Cherry acts as video host to the participating Centres to help promote bingo
and the good works that bingo funds do across the province.
    In 61 participating Centres, patrons will be playing to win a $200,000
full card jackpot, $20,000 outside square and a $1,000 in-hall consolation
prize. Anyone 18 years of age or older is invited to come out and try this
exciting way to play bingo. It is fun and easy and a chance to win is just
$2.00 per bingo card strip. Prizing is provided by the OBDF and net proceeds
will go to the bingo pooling account.
    "I am truly excited about entertaining our players tonight with this
thrilling event," said Don Cherry, legendary broadcaster. "We have BIG, BIG,
prizes up for grabs tonight. But the real winners are the charities who
benefit from the support Bingo Night In Ontario will provide."
    Organizations such as women's shelters, food banks, children's programs,
hospitals, youth sports programs, service clubs, family counseling programs,
afterschool support programs, youth shelters, health organizations, and
cultural programs all use bingo funds to provide services to their local
communities across Ontario.
    "Approximately $88 million was raised by charities through bingo(1),"
said Lynn Cassidy, Executive Director, Ontario Charitable Gaming Association.
"It is the strong support of bingo centre owners and staff, as well as the
commitment of our dedicated volunteers that allows us to make Bingo Night In
Ontario a reality and to raise these much needed funds."
    An estimated 3,000 charities and non-profits both large and small raise
funds through bingo in 69 Bingo Centres across the province. More than 60,000
volunteers are involved in carrying out bingo events to raise money for their
charities each year.
    A list of participating Bingo Centres is available at
www.charitablegaming.com.

    (1)"Approximately $88 million was raised by charities through bingo in
    2006/2007 (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Annual Report).

For further information: For more information or to speak with
spokespersons from the OBDF, contact: Phoebe Stephens, (416) 413-4611,
phoebe.stephens@hillandknowlton.com; Lena Beyer, (416) 413-4759,
lena.beyer@hillandknowlton.com