Loblaw Awards More Than $250,000 in Support of After-School Programs across Canada

Grants support local organizations that help kids develop healthy, active lifestyles

BRAMPTON, ON, June 27, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) - To help kids in local communities get active and stay healthy, Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) has awarded more than $250,000 through its After-School Grant for 2014.  Seventy-seven organizations across Canada providing after-school activities for kids from kindergarten to grade 12 will each receive grants of up to $5,000. Since 2010, $1.25 million has been awarded to more than 450 organizations.

"Loblaw's After-School Grant helps us provide programming that gives kids an alternative to being on the streets or joining gangs, an opportunity to learn life and job skills in order to break the cycle of poverty, and a secure and nurturing environment away from abuse and neglect," said Laurie Kozak, ICYA Youth.

The Loblaw After-School Grant focuses on innovative programs that help young people improve their fitness and nutrition levels, connect to their community and develop skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives. The grants also provide opportunities for participation by children that may not otherwise have access to after-school programs. These grants are part of the company's commitment and focus on healthy active kids.

"Nationwide, there are great organizations that provide children of all ages with supportive and enthusiastic after-school environments," said Peggy Hornell, Senior Director, Community Investment, Loblaw Companies Limited. "The programs are vital to keeping kids safe, healthy and active and are making a positive difference in young lives every day."

Loblaw is dedicated to being active in communities at the local, regional and national levels. "Make a positive difference in our community" is one of five Loblaw corporate social responsibility principles that shape Loblaw's approach to business. Please visit loblaw.ca/CSR for more information.

More information on the Loblaw After-School Grant, the selection process and how to apply are available at loblaw.ca.  The next application process will begin April 2015.

2014 Loblaw After-School Grant Recipients:

British Columbia
YMCA Of Okanagan Association, YMCA Beyond the Bell Program, Kelowna
Penticton & District Community Resources Society, After School Activities, Penticton
Summerland Asset Development Initiative, Feeding the Youth of Summerland Program, Summerland
Young Men's Christian Association Of Greater Vancouver, Langara Family YMCA Action Kids and Walking School Bus, Vancouver
Board Of Education of School District No. 39, Visions After School Program, Vancouver

Alberta and Saskatchewan
Bienfait Parks and Recreation Board, Bienfait mixed youth soccer, Bienfait
The Cool Aid Society of Grande Prairie, After School Program, Grande Prairie
Heartland Youth Centre, After School Program, Stettler

Manitoba
Dauphin Friendship Centre Incorporated, DFC Parent Child Program, Dauphin
Anishnabe Mikinack Kinamakamik Inc., Youth Diabetes Prevention Program at Turtle Lodge, Pine Falls
Swan River Friendship Centre Inc., Healthy Tips for Healthy Kids Program, Swan River
Swan Valley Recreation And Wellness Centre Inc., Lifeguard Certification Program, Swan River
Inner City Youth Alive, Inc, The Bridge Weekend Drop-in, Winnipeg
Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc, Ndinawe Youth Resource Centre, Winnipeg
Machray School, After School Fit Program, Winnipeg
Spence Neighbourhood Association, Building Belonging Program, Winnipeg
The Broadway Neighbourhood Centre, Fuel for School Program, Winnipeg
Dawn & Dusk Before And After School Care Program, New Ways to Get Active Program, Winnipeg
Jubilee Mennonite Church, Kids Doing Life Well - Phase 2 Program, Winnipeg

Ontario
Community Living- Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln, After School Program, Beamsville
Boys and Girls Club of Brantford, Afterschool Recreation Drop-In Program, Brantford
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Leeds and Grenville, Wellington After School Program, Brockville
Reach Out Centre For Kids (Rock), Healthy Active Living - Burloak, Burlington
YMCA of Cambridge, YMCA Teen Drop In Zone - Wednesday night Food 4U program with Recreational Opportunities, Cambridge
North Lambton Community Health Centre, iCAN Afterschool Program, Forest
Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Association of Guelph, Y Kids Club!, Guelph
Brant Ave Neighbourhood Group, Teen Drop In Program, Guelph
Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood Group, After-School Program Healthy Snacks, Guelph
West Willow Village Neighbourhood Group, Eat. Play. Grow!, Guelph
Welcome Inn Community Centre of Hamilton, Learning and Fun After School Program, Hamilton
Wesley Urban Ministries, Young Sous Chefs Program, Hamilton
Wever Core, WAVE (Wever After-school Ventures in Education) Program, Hamilton
Fusion Youth Centre, Fusion's Outdoor Sports and Fitness Hub Program, Ingersoll
The Kitchener Waterloo YMCA, YMCA Beyond the Bell Program, Kitchener
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, Fun and Fitness Program, Kitchener
YMCA of Western Ontario, Community School Programs, London
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton, Go Girls and Game On Program, Oakville
Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa, BGCO Aquatics Program, Ottawa
YMCA Of Central East Ontario, Highland Heights Public School Gets Active Program, Peterborough
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Reaching for Rainbows, Picton
Kennedy House Youth Services Inc., After School Program for Vulnerable Youth Program, Scarborough
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County, After School in Lanark County Program, Smith Falls
St. Charles College, SHSM Working Towards Healthy Snacks Program, Sudbury
Centre De Santé Communautaire Du Grand Sudbury, Cours de cuisson Program, Sudbury
Broad Reach Foundation For Youth Leaders, HoldFast! Program, Toronto
Proaction, Cops & Kids, The SISTA Program, Toronto
Earlscourt-Créche Child Development Institute, Taste of Home, Toronto
Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, The Nook Children's Program, Toronto
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre, After-School Fitness Program for Refugee Children, Toronto
St. Alban's Boys and Girls Club, Sistahood Program, Toronto
Harbourfront Community Centre, Pre-teen After School Program, Toronto
St. Stephen's Community House, Breaking Boundaries Program, Toronto
The Stop Community Food Centre, The Stop's After School and Camp Programs, Toronto
Malvern Family Resource Centre, Toronto
Moorelands Community Services, BLAST After-school Programs, Toronto
Friends In Toronto Community Services, After School Essentials (A.S.E) Program, Toronto

Atlantic Canada
Boys and Girls Club of Summerside, After School Healthy Living Program, Summerside
Boys and Girls Club of Moncton, CONTEXT Program, Moncton
Boys and Girls Club of Dieppe, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Program, Dieppe
Riverview Boys and Girls Club, Hillsborough Drop In Program, Riverview
East Hants Arena Association, After School Active Program, Lantz
Bay Bulls-Bauline Athletic Association, BBBA After School "On the MOve", Bay Bulls
The Greater Moncton YMCA, Campbellton YMCA Youth Centre, Campbellton

Quebec
Club De Natation Les Barracudas De Gaspé, Même dans l'eau, on a chaud!, Gaspe
Défi-Jeunesse Du Haut St-Maurice, Trouve ta motivation, c'est ta destination III, La Tuque
Maison Des Enfants Le Dauphin, Le Refuge du Dauphin, Laval
L'oasis Des Enfants De Rosemont, Bonne bouffe et initiation au jardinage/compostage, Montreal
Les Ateliers Cinq Épices, Des Saveurs Pour Tous, Petits cuistots / Parents en réseaux (PC-PR), Montreal
Maison Des Jeunes Sens Unique Secteur Brandon, Le bonheur est dans la soupe, Saint-Gabriel
Maison Des Jeunes Évasion, Projet Pensez manger santé, Saguenay
Maison Des Jeunes De Shawinigan-Sud, En santé vers la réussite, Shawinigan
Les Grands Frères Et Les Grandes Sœurs De L'estrie, À vos marques, Sherbrooke
Commission Scolaire De La Seigneurie Des Mille-Îles, Grand défi Pierre Lavoie, St-Eustache
Maison Des Jeunes L'initiative, Le vegge de la semaine, Valcourt
Jeunes Pousses, Aventuriers du goût en service de garde, Waterville

About Loblaw Companies Limited

Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unitholder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose - Live Life Well - puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart^® and Pharmaprix^® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations PC Financial^® no-fee banking; affordable Joe Fresh^® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand^®, no name^® and President's Choice^®. Through the PC Plus™ and Shoppers Optimum^® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.

SOURCE: Loblaw Companies Limited