The 2011 JJ Bear Campaign raised 30K at RONA stores across Ontario
Today, one out of every 25 children in Canada need our help.
In November and December of 2011, the Children’s Aid Foundation sold special teddy bears at RONA stores across Ontario to help youth in foster care get an education and find a career. Sales from the bears combined with in-store $1 suggested donations generated an impressive 30K for youth scholarships.
“Kids in foster care don’t have the family support and financial help they need go to university or college. That's why we created the JJ Bear. Taking home this plush new friend with you this holiday season will help us give youth the support they need the most,” said Len Gamache, president of the Children's Aid Foundation.
JJ Bear sales help Ontario youth in foster care through an established RONA scholarship fund that is managed by the Children’s Aid Foundation.
Working in partnership with Z103.5, The Jewel Network stations 88.5, 92, 98.5, & 107.7 and RONA, the Foundation successfully ran its 4th annual JJ Bear Campaign from November 28th to December 11th. Select RONA stores offered the purchase of the official JJ Bear Teddy Bear for $10 and collected $1 donations at all RONA stores across Ontario throughout the two week campaign period. People were also able to donate online at jjbear.ca.
“As a business leader in the community we felt that it was important for us to recognize and support the importance of post secondary education,” commented Ben Leduc, Vice President-Retail, RONA,
Ontario region. “The Children’s Aid JJ Bear Campaign has been a great way to be able to do so. By providing financial assistance to youth who otherwise might not be able to attend post secondary education, we are not only investing in their futures, but in ours as well – today’s youth are inevitably going to be tomorrow’s leaders,” added Mr. Leduc.
To learn more about the annual campaign, visit www.jjbear.ca.
About RONA
RONA is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products and operates a network of more than 950 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats. With close to 6,300 employees working under its family of banners within the Ontario region and more than 3.7 million square feet of retail space in Ontario, the RONA Ontario store network helps to generate over $6 billion in annual retail sales in Canada. Visit rona.ca.