CTV Toronto and The Salvation Army Mark 20 Years of Service in the Community with Annual TOY MOUNTAIN Holiday Campaign, Now Underway

TORONTO (November 30, 2015) – With the magic of the holiday season fast approaching, CTV Toronto is proudly spreading holiday happiness by building a mountain of toys for families in need with the 20^th Annual TOY MOUNTAIN campaign in support of The Salvation Army. Kicking off today – Monday, Nov. 30 and running through to December 21 – the annual charitable toy collection marks two decades of helping make the season brighter for thousands of children across the GTA. TOY MOUNTAIN hopes to surpass last year’s realized goal of collecting 150,000 new unwrapped toys, and encourages Torontonians to get in the spirit of the season by donating generously to all age groups, with an emphasis on children with the greatest need: teens aged 14-17, and boys and girls aged 10-13. For the eleventh year in a row, CTV Toronto Weather Anchor Tom Brown leads the TOY MOUNTAIN collection effort, delivering live progress updates throughout the duration of the campaign during CTV NEWS AT SIX, Toronto’s most-watched news broadcast. Viewers can stay abreast of where daily events are taking place by visiting the Toy Mountain campaign calendar, and tune in each evening to catch Brown’s daily reports live from various collection stops across the GTA. On Monday, Dec. 21, Brown returns to the CTV Toronto studio to mark the official close of the TOY MOUNTAIN campaign during that evening’s CTV NEWS AT SIX. “It’s heartwarming to witness the generosity of our viewers who, year after year, help us build a bigger mountain of toys to help families across the city,” said Brown. “I’m honoured to be a part of TOY MOUNTAIN’s holiday magic for the eleventh year running.” “For two decades now, our viewers have united in the spirit of giving during the holiday season to make a positive difference for those less fortunate across the GTA,” said Joanne MacDonald, Vice-President, CTV News. “TOY MOUNTAIN is a longstanding holiday tradition we proudly uphold, and we are thankful to our viewers for giving generously, bringing joy to so many children and families in need.” TOY MOUNTAIN’s dedicated online portal Toronto.CTVNews.ca/Toy-Mountain features a list of drop-off locations, a live remote calendar, social media feeds, and more. Users are able to make financial donations online and receive a tax receipt from The Salvation Army. Supporters can also receive social media updates from the campaign by following @toymountain and joining the campaign’s Facebook page. Corporations and individuals can get involved with TOY MOUNTAIN by visiting SalvationArmy.ca or calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY. The TOY MOUNTAIN campaign is borne by the strong partnership between CTV Toronto and The Salvation Army, with CTV Toronto driving promotional efforts, and collection and distribution logistics managed by The Salvation Army. The TOY MOUNTAIN campaign is made possible with the generous support of Toronto Area Ford Dealers and Marshalls Canada. “Every year, The Salvation Army is thrilled to partner with our wonderful friends at CTV Toronto for the annual TOY MOUNTAIN campaign. Without their support, we would not be able to assist thousands of families in the GTA every holiday season,” said Neil W. Leduke, Divisional Director of Marketing and Communications, The Salvation Army. “Together, along with the generosity of our supporters, we are able to make sure our city’s children are given the Christmas they deserve.” In 2014, The Salvation Army in Toronto provided thousands of children with toys and other practical items, and over 30,000 families with assorted food hampers through its Christmas assistance program.