Canadian Tire Jumpstart Launches One Million Red Balls Campaign to Help 20,000 Kids Play Sports This Summer

Fourth Annual Jumpstart Day dedicated to helping one in three Canadian families that cannot afford to enrol their kids in organized sports and recreation

TORONTO, April 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian Tire Jumpstart announced today its One Million Red Balls campaign, which begins May 4 and culminates with the charity's fourth annual Jumpstart Day on Saturday, May 26. The campaign aims to raise $2 million to help 20,000 children across Canada participate in organized sports and recreation this summer. Customers are encouraged this month to make a $2 donation at Canadian Tire, Mark's and Canadian Tire Gas+ locations in exchange for one of the million red balls.

"We have set an ambitious goal for ourselves this year - to help 20,000 kids get off the sidelines and into the game - because we know that Canadians are up to the challenge," said Dan Thompson, President, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. "Being a part of a team, getting coached for the first time, or taking a lesson is an important part of childhood and we strongly believe that every child should have a chance to experience the camradery that comes with playing with other kids and the satisfaction of learning new skills. We encourage Canadians to donate to Jumpstart to give a sporting chance for kids in their community." 

Canadian Tire Jumpstart hopes the red balls will become a lasting, national symbol for child's play and that they will give customers a tangible reminder of their contribution to helping children get involved with sports and recreation. Customers are encouraged to take a picture with their Jumpstart red ball and share it online at OneMillionRedBalls.ca (live May 1), which will be turned into a custom photo mosaic. Canadians who register and share their photo will be automatically entered into a contest for a chance to win either a $5,000 shopping spree at Canadian Tire or Mark's or free Gas for a year.

Jumpstart has encouraged athletes, sports and media personalities, musicians and celebrities to join the One Million Red Balls campaign. Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, former NHL legend Darryl Sittler, Canadian Figure Skater, Kurt Browning and international Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, are just a few notables who have already shown their support. In addition to having their photo with the red ball posted to OneMillionRedBalls.ca, they will sign a red ball, which will be auctioned off in June. All proceeds from the red ball auction will go to Jumpstart.

Donations to Jumpstart help the one in three Canadian families that cannot afford to enrol their children in organized sports and recreation. All funds raised through the One Million Red Balls campaign and on Jumpstart Day stay within the local community to help local children. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped more than 417,000 kids across Canada by removing the financial barriers that prevent children from participating.

The May campaign will be celebrated on Saturday, May 26, with events taking place at Canadian Tire stores across the country. Customers can also celebrate Jumpstart Day through the following events:

• At select Canadian Tire stores, customers can take part in activities and for those who make a donation, will be treated to a Go Clean waterless car wash.
• Canadians can visit their nearby Pita Pit throughout the month of May and on Jumpstart Day to make a $2 donation in exchange for a red ball and a coupon for $1 off their next Pita Pit purchase.
• Pita Pit will also donate $2 to Jumpstart for every photo uploaded to OneMillionRedBalls.ca
• The Ontario Correctional Officers from 28 prisons are encouraging kids to "stay on the court and out of theirs" by helping to wash cars with the GoClean waterless car wash, at select Canadian Tire stores.
• GoClean will attempt the World's Largest Carwash record without water on May 26 at select Canadian Tire stores, with all proceeds going to Jumpstart. To help kick-off this event GoClean will host an event at Yonge - Dundas Square on May 24.

About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreation by covering registration, equipment and/or transportation costs. Since 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has helped give 417,835 Canadian kids the chance to play and the momentum is stronger than ever. To lend your support, visit Canadian Tire Jumpstart at www.canadiantire.ca/jumpstart.

Follow us on:

http://www.facebook.com/CTJumpstart

http://twitter.com/#!/ctjumpstart

http://www.youtube.com/user/CTJumpstartCharities

http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca

Image with caption: " Dan Thompson, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, and children from Newmarket, Ontario kick-off the One Million Red Balls campaign that leads up to the charity's fourth annual Jumpstart Day on May 26, 2012. Customers who make a $2 donation at Canadian Tire, Mark's and Canadian Tire Gas+ locations from May 4-26 will receive a red ball with all funds going to help kids participate in organized sports this summer. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE JUMPSTART)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120430_C2371_PHOTO_EN_12868.jpg

Image with caption: "Dan Thompson, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, juggles with children from Newmarket, Ontario to kick off the One Million Red Balls campaign that leads up to the charity's fourth annual Jumpstart Day on May 26, 2012. Customers who make a $2 donation at Canadian Tire, Mark's and Canadian Tire Gas+ locations from May 4-26 will receive a red ball with all funds going to help kids participate in organized sports this summer (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE JUMPSTART)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120430_C2371_PHOTO_EN_12869.jpg

For further information:

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Julie Bellissimo
Canadian Tire Corporation
416-480-3180
[e-mail]

Emma Greasley
High Road Communications
416-644-2297
[e-mail]