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Company and employees deliver more than 10,000 new backpacks full of
essential school supplies to kids in six provinces - 25 per cent
increase year over year
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Program addresses low-income family needs through 400 school and
community-based organizations
HALIFAX, Aug. 30, 2013 /CNW/ - More than 10,000 children in Atlantic
Canada, Quebec and Ontario will head back to school carrying backpacks
filled with school supplies, thanks to the Bell Aliant Backpacks for
Kids program. The company purchases empty backpacks which employees and
Bell Aliant Pioneers adopt and fill with supplies. Bell Aliant partners
with community groups to distribute the backpacks to kids through 400
schools and other community organizations.
One in seven Canadian children lives in poverty. The Backpacks for Kids
program helps children at an important time of year when many families
struggle to afford back-to-school supplies on top of daily necessities
and other costs of living. In markets served by Bell Aliant there are
about 65,000 elementary school aged children in need.
"We know the need is great. Teachers tell us kids who start school with
the right supplies, are more confident and have a better chance at
success all year long," said Karen Sheriff, President and CEO of Bell
Aliant. "Knowing every additional backpack we fill helps one more child
is a powerful motivator; it inspired our employees and retirees to
outperform and fill more and more backpacks every year since 2003. I am
so proud of their dedication and determination to overachieve and make
a meaningful difference in our communities."
Bell Aliant's Backpacks for Kids program is grounded in the belief when many people contribute, they have the power to accomplish something greater than on their own.
Since 2003, Bell Aliant has purchased and delivered almost 28,000
backpacks. Last year alone, nearly 8,000 children benefitted from the
program. Each backpack is valued at approximately $50, with a total
value of $500,000 for 2013. This year, the program received significant
support from suppliers, customers and online contributions.
Bell Aliant works closely with partner community organizations and
elementary schools including Saint John's Centennial School, Moncton
Headstart, the Fredericton Food Bank in New Brunswick; Single Parent's
Association and Native Friendship Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador;
the Boys and Girls Club of Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island;
Centre de Bénévolat de Val-d'Or, Quebec; Children's Aid in Ontario; and
Feed Nova Scotia.
About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA) is one of North America's largest regional
communications providers and the first company in Canada to cover an
entire city with FTTH technology with its FibreOP services. Through its operating entities it serves customers in six
Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and
technology services including voice, data, Internet, video and
value-added business solutions. Bell Aliant's employees deliver the
highest quality customer service, choice and convenience.
Image with caption: "Backpacks for Kids is in its 11th year and an employee-driven program (St. John's, NL). (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30268.jpg
Image with caption: "Bell Aliant delivers 500 backpacks for kids to FEED NOVA SCOTIA (Halifax, NS) (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30272.jpg
Image with caption: "Bell Aliant Pioneer Lois Oldfield and Nancy Boucher of the Anglophone North School District (Miramichi, NB). (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30264.jpg
Image with caption: "Bell Aliant summer students, Curtis Muise and Patrick McIntyre, delivering backpacks to Salvation Army (Summerside, PEI). (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30270.jpg
Image with caption: "Bell Aliant Backpacks for Kids community partner, Centre Jeunesse Chicoutimi. (Chicoutimi, QC) (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30260.jpg
Image with caption: "A big thank you from the North Bay Big Brothers & Big Sisters (North Bay, ON). (CNW Group/Bell Aliant Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130830_C9376_PHOTO_EN_30266.jpg
SOURCE: Bell Aliant Inc.
