Media Advisory/REMINDER: 2,000 School Bags Will Be Freely Distributed During the "Back-to-School With Heads Held High" Event

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2009) - This upcoming 17th and 18th of August, during Montreal's 8th annual biggest distribution of free school supplies, Back-to-School with Heads Held High, hundreds of children from underprivileged backgrounds will receive a school bag full of hope and supplies.

You are cordially invited to join us in a festive atmosphere, as we celebrate Back-to-School with jugglers, face painting, inflatable structures and over $ 170,000 in school supplies to be given to more than 2,000 children! This year, Welcome Hall Mission's Back-to-School with Heads Held High event is pleased to welcome the Alouettes' mascot "Touche". The mascot will be on site August 17th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM to meet young fans. Let's not forget that the Alouettes have proved very committed to the Mission, particularly in the Men's services' Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless. Emilie Lafleur, defending spelling champion and winner of the Canwest Canspell Regional Spelling Bee in 2008 and 2009, will be our guest of honor for the event. In the morning of August 17th, she will be giving a hand to our many volunteers who, just like her, come to help hundreds of children start the school year with "heads held high"!

Welcome Hall Mission, a Montreal charitable organization that has been fighting against homelessness, poverty, social exclusion and hunger for over a century, could not have undertaken such a major distribution without the help of its loyal donors: the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation, provider of 2,000 back packs, the Aldo Group, supplier of over 2,000 brand new pairs of shoes, and La Presse, a supporter of the Mission's campaigns.
Come one, come all!

/T/

WHEN : Monday, August 17th 2009, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Tuesday, August 18th 2009, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

WHERE : Welcome Hall Mission's Multiservice Center
4755 D, Acorn street (corner of Courcelles),
St-Henri neighbourhood, in Montreal

/T/