Media Alert - Photo Opportunity - Olympian Cheryl Pounder and 400 Students
Form Giant Apple to Kick Off Feeding Toronto's Hungry Students Week

Ontario Apple Growers Provide 100,000 Apples to Toronto Schools

TORONTO , Sept. 30 /CNW/ - On Monday, October 5th, 2009 , two-time Olympic gold medalist Cheryl Pounder will team up with the Ontario Apple Growers to inspire elementary students to eat like athletes and to shoot for their dreams. Following a motivational assembly by Pounder, 400 students from grades five through eight will gather on the school's grounds to partake in a giant apple photo.

    
    Highlights will include:
    -   A 650 apple giveaway by Ontario Apple Growers to Duke of Connaught
        School students
    -   Welcoming remarks by the Principal and Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher
    -   Thank you remarks by two students
    -   A motivational assembly given by Olympian Cheryl Pounder
    -   A giant apple photograph consisting of 400 students
    

The Ontario Apple Growers will be providing 100,000 apples to elementary and high school students through more than 500 school-based nutrition programs, supported by the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, an arm's length charity of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB).

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    What:     Olympian Cheryl Pounder and the Ontario Apple Growers team up
              to launch Feeding Toronto's Hungry Students Week

    When:     Monday, October 5th, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

              Photo Opportunity No.1 - starts at approximately 9:30 a.m. to
                                     10:00 a.m.: Cheryl Pounder's
                                     motivational presentation to students

              Photo Opportunity No.2 - starts at approximately 10:00 a.m. to
                                     10:20 a.m.: Four hundred students form a
                                     giant apple on school grounds and
                                     Ontario apple growers distribute
                                     hundreds of apples.

    Why:      One out of three children comes to school hungry each day. The
              Toronto District School Board operates nutrition programs in
              over 500 schools each day. Through this contribution of apples
              and her motivational presentation, Pounder hopes students will
              realize the importance of maintaining a balanced diet and
              understand its link to achieving their academic and personal
              success.

    Where:    Duke of Connaught School, 70 Woodfield Road, Toronto
              (Queen St. E. & Coxwell Ave.) Parking at back of the school.

    Note to
    media:    Professional photographs along with captions will be posted on
              Canada NewsWire immediately following the event. Media
              photographers are invited to take additional photographs. A
              20-foot electric lift will be supplied for overhead
              photographs.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Interview Ops:
                 1. Cheryl Pounder will be available for interviews before
                    and after the school assembly. She will also be available
                    to speak with media on October 6th via telephone or in
                    person.

                 2. Trustee Sheila Cary-Meagher will be available for
                    interviews before and after the assembly to speak about
                    TDSB student nutrition programs.

                 3. Ontario Apple Growers, Tom O'Neill of The Norfolk Fruit
                    Growers' Association and Jim Dolmer of The Bay Growers'
                    Co-operative, will be distributing apples to students
                    after the assembly.
    

About Cheryl Pounder

Cheryl Pounder was born in Montreal into a family of hockey enthusiasts: a grandfather, who was GM of the Montreal Junior Canadiens, and her hockey-playing older brothers. The rink in the family's backyard also helped to set her on the path to excel at Canada's national sport. Upon moving to Mississauga, Ontario, she achieved the status of athlete of the year at both her high school and Wilfred Laurier University, where she earned an honours degree in Kinesiology. She has played on Canada's 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005 (All-Star Defenseman) World Championship Hockey teams and was voted the top defenseman at the 2002, 2004, 2007 and MVP at the 2005 Canadian Women's Hockey National Championship. Pounder's greatest career accomplishments are represented by her two Olympic Gold Medals in Salt Lake City and Torino . Considering Pounder's pursuit of both educational and physical excellence, it's no surprise that her impressive sports achievements are complemented by her abilities as a motivational speaker.

About Ontario Apple Growers

The Ontario Apple Growers represents 260 commercial apple growers. There are about 18,000 acres of apples produced in Ontario. The major apple-producing areas in Ontario are along the shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. For more information, visit www.onapples.com.

About Toronto District School Board

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is the largest in Canada and among the largest school boards in North America . The TDSB serves approximately 1.4 million electors in the City of Toronto with 264,828 students in 565 day schools, another 130,000 learners including adults in Continuing Education programs and approximately 37,000 employees.

About Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS)

The Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) is a registered, non-profit organization, created to ensure that all students get the most from their educational experience. The TFSS operates independently from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), while acting as its charitable foundation. The TFSS acts as an advocate for students, identifying and initiating programs to deal with the hunger, poverty and violence experienced by the students. The Foundation works in partnership with the TDSB, major corporations and private individuals.

For further information: to arrange an interview with Cheryl Pounder or to confirm your attendance, please contact: Sonya Franceschini, Katarina Markovinovic, Faye Clack Communications Inc., [phone] ext. 249, ext. 222, [email protected], [email protected]. For an immediate response on Monday, October 5th please call [phone] OR [phone]