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Toronto – Since 2005, The Argos Foundation has made an impact on young people’s lives with the help of corporate supporters Walmart Canada.  Whether reaching out to a victim of bullying, inspiring an incarcerated youth to make a positive life change, or providing critical funding to an organization empowering marginalized youth to become leaders in their schools and communities, The Argos Foundation has been at the forefront of youth violence prevention.  To help fund the Foundation’s programs, Walmart Canada - the Foundation's founding sponsor - is bringing back the highly-successful paper football campaign for a fourth-straight year.

With 20 participating Walmart stores in the GTA, the paper footballs are available to Walmart shoppers at a cost of $1 each, with full proceeds going to the programs of The Argos Foundation.  The campaign is scheduled to run from July 9-19, 2009.  Paper football supporters will also receive a further offer to purchase tickets to Argos games with additional proceeds benefitting The Argos Foundation.  A full list of participating stores is available at www.stoptheviolence.ca.

New for the 2009 campaign is an Argos Foundation BBQ Blitz.  Walmart locations will hold full day BBQ fundraisers to support the initiative on Sunday, July 12 and Sunday, July 19.  Argos Cheerleaders will appear at the fundraisers.

John Lawrence, Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Walmart Canada Corp., commented, “The work of The Argos Foundation is key to building healthy and safe communities.  As a store of the community, we know the value of helping to make life better for our customers and associates. We are proud to be involved with such an important cause."

Remarked Councillor Mark Grimes, Chair, The Argos Foundation, "Support from corporate citizens like Walmart Canada is invaluable to The Argos Foundation's goal of reducing violence in the GTA. With their unwavering commitment, extensive in-store fundraising and countless donations, they continue to be a dependable supporter even in these trying financial times. Walmart Canada's contribution inspires us all to take action to ensure our communities remain safe.”

During the 2008/2009 school year, the Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program presented by Tim Horton’s saw over 30,000 students empowered with bullying prevention strategies, and educated on the long-lasting effects bullying leaves behind.  Over 50 schools across the Greater Toronto Area adopted the “Support, Report, Defend” motto, their students vowing to protect each other from harm - physically, emotionally and verbally.

To date, 46 incarcerated young men had a shoulder to lean on and a non-judgmental sounding board to speak to through the Youth Mentorship Program.  They had the knowledge that someone cared about them and believed in them, despite their past actions or behaviours.  For the first time in many of their lives, they had positive male role models, who they could relate to and learn from, who wanted to see them succeed in their struggle to turn their lives around.

Nine community organizations received funding for their programs which work with disengaged youth to build confidence and positive leaders through Community Outreach.  Additionally, through the Ambassador for Youth Program, The Argos Foundation gave over 250 youth, who otherwise may not have had the opportunity, the chance to experience the thrill and excitement of an Argos football game, complete with a meal upon their arrival and transportation to and from the stadium.