LCBO stores raise funds for Variety Village

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Starting February 26, the public can support Variety Village by making a donation at any of the more than 620 LCBO stores throughout Ontario. Donation boxes for Variety will be displayed at LCBO checkout counters until March 31.

Specifically geared to people with disabilities, Variety is dedicated to providing programs and services promoting inclusion and integration and strives to make people of all abilities fully accepted everywhere. Proceeds from the LCBO provincial donation box program will be used in support of Variety Village's Fitness Friends program. Fitness Friends partners a student with special needs with a mentoring peer and encourages them to participate in inclusive physical activities outside the school curriculum. These two-person teams, each with the support of an educator, participate in as many inclusive sport and recreation activities as possible during recess, lunch, and before and after school. Fitness Friends reaches more than 1,200 students and is in 75 different schools in Durham, Peterborough and Peel regions. Variety hopes to expand the program to other regions with funding support.

"We thank LCBO, its employees and especially its customers for providing us with the opportunity to share our cause," says John Willson, President and CEO of Variety Village. "LCBO and its customers have been important supporters of Variety in Ontario for many years and through various campaigns. The donation box program is an effective way for us to raise awareness and funds for our important programs, such as the Fitness Friends initiative."

"LCBO is pleased to partner with Variety Village and provide support to a variety of worthy causes," says LCBO President and CEO Bob Peter. "Generous LCBO customers and staff improve the lives of countless Ontarians and help communities throughout the province."

Variety Village is one of 28 provincial, as well as numerous local charities, that will benefit from LCBO's province-wide donation box program in 2012. In 2010, LCBO raised a total of $5.4 million for charities through special programs and initiatives, of which $4.8 million was raised through in-store fundraising. In addition, LCBO's annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1.55 billion in fiscal 2010-11, excluding taxes, supports a wide range of important government programs, services and priorities, including health care and education.

Variety Village thanks the public for its support when shopping at their local LCBO store during March.

Media Contacts:

Lynda Elmy
Director, Communications, Variety - The Children's Charity and Variety Village
Tel: [phone] x 249
E-mail: [email protected]

Stephanie Petroff
LCBO Senior Communications Consultant
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]