Canadian Tire congratulates Jonathan Toews & Hayley Wickenheiser, and Sport Chek congratulates Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos & Meaghan Mikkelson as they lead Canada's hockey teams in Sochi 2014

Canadian Tire, Sport Chek Will Donate $5,000 to Jumpstart Charities for Every Goal Scored By One of Its Sponsored Athletes  

Each Athlete Goal Will Ensure 50 Canadian Kids Are Enrolled In Sports This Year

TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - As premiere national partners of the Canadian Olympic Team, Canadian Tire, Sport Chek and Sports Experts congratulate five of their sponsored athletes for being selected to represent Canada on the men's and women's hockey teams at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Earlier this morning Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews were selected to be part of Canada's men's team, and Steven Stamkos will be making his Olympic debut provided he has recovered from his recent injury. Hayley Wickenheiser and Meaghan Mikkelson were announced as part of the women's team in late December, with Hayley leading as captain for the second Games in a row.

In addition to congratulatory well wishes, Canadian Tire and Sport Chek also announced that they would be opening up their wallets – pledging a sizable donation to Jumpstart Charities for each and every goal scored by their sponsored athletes in their respective qualifying and medal contending games. A $5,000 donation from Sport Chek will be made for every goal scored by Sidney, Meaghan and Steven and a $5,000 donation will be made from Canadian Tire for every goal scored by Jonathan and Hayley.  

Each athlete goal will ensure that 50 Canadian kids in communities from St. John's to Victoria are enrolled in sports this year through Jumpstart, a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreational programs. As a result of the support this initiative has received from the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), Canadian Tire and Sport Chek will be donating $15,000 worth of sporting equipment to the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund. Through the donation of equipment grants, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund has given more than 60,000 deserving children the opportunity to play hockey and benefit from the sport's commitment to teamwork, discipline and physical fitness.

"Canadian Tire's passion for sport is a big part of who we are as a company. We have 85,000 employees across the country and many of us will take pride in cheering on Jonathan, Sidney, Hayley, Steven and Meaghan as they go for Gold in Sochi," said Michael Medline, President of Canadian Tire Corporation. "Sport inspires our kids to be active – something we care deeply about – and this donation will provide even more children with the health benefits, discipline, confidence, social skills and laughter that come with organized play."

Jumpstart helps families in communities across Canada by covering the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation. Since its launch in 2005, Jumpstart Charities has given nearly 700,000 kids across Canada the chance to play. Additionally, late last year Canadian Tire launched ACTIVE AT SCHOOL, the largest movement in Canadian history to get kids re-engaged in physical activity through ensuring they get one hour a day before, during or after school. More information is available at ActiveAtSchool.ca.

About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is a Family of Companies that includes Canadian Tire Retail, PartSource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, Pro Hockey Life, National Sports, S3 and Atmosphere), Mark's, Canadian Tire Financial Services, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. With nearly 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast, our primary retail business categories - Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel - are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division. More than 85,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands. Canadian Tire Retail, Sport Chek and Sports Experts are proud to be Premier National Partners of the Canadian Olympic Team. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca

About Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charitable program dedicated to providing financially disadvantaged kids with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sport and recreation. With an extensive, national network of more than 332 local chapters, Jumpstart helps families in communities across Canada by covering the costs associated with registration, equipment and/or transportation.

Supported by the Canadian Tire Family of Companies, which includes Canadian Tire, Partsource, Gas+, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services, Jumpstart has enabled nearly 700,000 Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For more information or to lend your support, visit Jumpstart.CanadianTire.ca.

SOURCE: CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

Leah Gaucher, D: [phone], C: [phone], [email protected]; Carol Endicott, D: [phone], C: [phone], [email protected]