STAPLES CANADA GIVES A $400,000 GIFT TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS CANADA

'Give a Toonie. Share a Dream.' campaign surpasses goal and helps create a lifetime of change for those with an intellectual disability

TORONTO, Dec. 3 /CNW/ - Staples Canada is proud to announce a very successful 'Give a Toonie. Share a Dream.' campaign with $407,558 raised for Special Olympics Canada - giving athletes from across the country even more opportunities to fulfill their dreams.

"We are so happy to see that both our Associates and customers have overwhelmingly supported this great charity. We set the bar high at a $400,000 goal and did it thanks to our customers' generosity! In light of today's uncertainty with today's economy, we especially appreciate the generosity of Canadians this year!" says Steve Matyas, President of Staples Canada.

Staples Canada has donated over $4 million dollars through the "Share a Dream" campaign to date. The office supply retailer has been a national sponsor of Special Olympics Canada since 1996.

"I would like to thank the wonderful team at Staples Canada and its customers who responded so generously during this year's Give a Toonie. Share a Dream. campaign," said Deborah Bright, president & CEO of Special Olympics Canada. "By reaching out to customers, Staples has raised awareness about this incredible movement, and has helped bring the joy of sport to more Canadians with an intellectual disability."

The 'Give a Toonie. Share a Dream.' campaign ran from November 6 - November 27 at all Staples/Bureau En Gros locations, and call centres. Donations can still be accepted at: www.specialolympics.ca

About Special Olympics Canada
Dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport, this national, not-for-profit organization provides training and competition opportunities to more than 34,000 athletes of all ages and abilities through the local sport club. Special Olympics Canada also benefits from an extensive network of more than 16,400 volunteers, which includes more than 13,000 trained coaches. For more information, visit www.specialolympics.ca or call toll-free, 1-888-888-0608.

About Staples Canada
Founded in Toronto in 1991, Staples Canada Inc. is Canada's largest everyday low price supplier of office supplies, business machines, office furniture and business services for the small business and home office customer. The chain operates stores in all provinces across Canada under the banners Staples^® Canada and Bureau en Gros^MC. Marketing Magazine's Marketing/Leger 2009 Corporate Reputation Survey ranked Staples Canada/Bureau en Gros in the top five. The company has over 13,500 employees serving customers through more than 330 office superstores, catalogue, and e-commerce. Staples/Bureau en Gros is committed to making shopping easy by offering customers three ways to shop: online, by catalogue and in-store. More information is available at www.staples.ca.

For further information:

For media and event related questions, please contact:

Rachel Swiednicki
Public Relations Manager
Staples Canada
905-737-114, ext. 2714
[e-mail]

Susana Petti
Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Special Olympics Canada
1-888-888-0608 or 416-927-9050, ext. x 237
[e-mail]