LCBO stores raising funds for Child Find Ontario

Starting this week, all 600 LCBO stores in Ontario will support the cause for missing and exploited children.

Child Find Ontario donation boxes will be displayed at LCBO checkout counters until Oct. 31, providing the public an opportunity to donate to the prevention of child luring by predators.

For 24 years, Child Find Ontario has continued its provincial lead role in youth safety education, equipping children of all ages with the knowledge and confidence to avoid harmful situations and abduction. In 2006, more than 60,000 children were reported missing to the RCMP and in excess of 30 per cent of registered cases were from Ontario; statistically documenting the largest provincial number in Canada.

Child Find Ontario works actively to fulfill a need within Ontario communities delivering free of charge programs designed to reduce the occurrence of child victimization. In addition, it provides searching families a 24/7 point of contact for any questions or assistance they may need in regard to their missing child's case as it actively participates in the search for their child.

"We appreciate the provincial exposure LCBO will provide us in October," commented Child Find Ontario Executive Director Trish Derby. "Their corporate initiative to involve our communities in the fight against child exploitation will help bring our message to the forefront of Ontarians' minds."

"We are pleased to partner with Child Find Ontario," remarked LCBO Chair Philip J. Olsson. "LCBO's customers have always responded generously to worthy causes, and we thank them for providing a positive change in so many people's lives."

Child Find Ontario is one of 26 provincial and numerous local charities that will benefit from the LCBO's province-wide donation box program in 2007. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised annually through LCBO's in-store donation box program. In addition, LCBO's annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1. 275 billion in fiscal 2006-'07 (excluding taxes), supported a wide range of important government programs, services and priorities including health care and education.