February 2, 2011/-KINGSTON, ON University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF) and Shoppers Drug Mart® are proud to announce that the company’s pledge to raise $50,000 for Together We Can has gone above and beyond their target, for a total gift of $58,990.

All local Shoppers Drug Mart® stores contributed to the gift in support of Kingston’s hospitals through their annual Tree of Life Campaign.

At the Shoppers Drug Mart® store at Princess and Bagot Streets today, Owner and Pharmacist, Art Acharya and his colleagues: Adam Doyle, Pharmacist Owner of the store at Kingslake Plaza; and Reena Acharya, Pharmacist Owner of store at Princess St. at Centennial Dr., gathered to announce this year’s total of $13,288, which tops off a five year gift through proceeds from the Tree of Life Campaign.

Together with Tree of Life proceeds contributed since 2006, the project has generated more than $58,000 in support for building projects and patient care equipment at our Kingston hospitals.

Mr. Acharya said; "We are so happy to see that this year's campaign raised $13,288, which took us over the top.  Thank you to all our wonderful customers for their generous spirit and support for women's health care programs in our community."

UHKF Executive Director Denise Cumming expressed thanks to Shoppers Drug Mart® for their loyal support.  “We are very grateful and honoured to benefit from the ongoing commitment of our local Shoppers Drug Mart® stores and their customers through the Tree of Life Campaign.  You are making an important contribution to women’s health care at our hospitals.” 
 
Today’s gift will support the purchase of a new hysteroflator for the surgical program at KGH.  This equipment is used by physicians for examination and removal of uterine tumours and other lesions.  This item fits well with Shoppers’ corporate commitment to support women’s health in local communities.

The Tree of Life Campaign collects donations over a three week period each year by having customers purchase a “leaf” for a loonie, a “maple leaf” for $5 or an “apple” for $50.  Donors can personalize a “leaf” to be placed on a branch of the Tree of Life which is prominently displayed in the store.

During the four week campaign, from September 18th, 2010 to October 15th, 2010, more than 1,180 Shoppers Drug Mart / Pharmaprix stores across Canada participated in the 2010 Tree of Life Campaign to provide support to 375 Canadian healthcare related charities. National in scope, yet locally based, the Tree of Life campaign sees 100 percent of the proceeds donated to women’s health charities within individual communities, allowing women even greater access to services and information they need to stay healthy in mind, body and spirit.

About Shoppers Drug Mart® Tree of Life Campaign
Introduced in 2002, the annual Tree of Life Campaign gives Shoppers Drug Mart and Shoppers Home Health Care customers and employees, the opportunity to make a difference to the communities in which they live and work.

The Tree of Life Campaign has allowed Shoppers customers and employees to give back more than $5 million to communities across Canada.

About the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
The $70-million Together We Can campaign is the largest and most important health care fundraising initiative in the history of Southeastern Ontario. Led by the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the joint fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care, the campaign will raise money for the redevelopment of our hospitals, the purchasing of equipment and the funding of medical research and staff education. Can we change tomorrow’s health care? Together We Can. To find out more or to make a donation call 613-549-5452 or toll-free in Southeastern Ontario at 866-549-5452. Go online to www.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca.

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