CTV Toronto Kicks Off the Holiday Season with 18th Annual Toy Mountain Campaign, Nov. 25

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TORONTO (November 21, 2013) – ‘Tis the season to be generous! CTV Toronto is set to collect a mountain of toys for the 18^th Annual Toy Mountain Campaign in support of The Salvation Army. Kicking off Monday, Nov. 25 through Dec. 24, the annual campaign helps make the holiday brighter by providing thousands of toys to children throughout the GTA. With more ways to give and stay connected than ever before, Toy Mountain has set the goal of collecting 150,000 new, unwrapped toys this holiday season, inviting the city to get into the spirit of the holidays by ensuring this goal is achieved.

CTV Toronto weather anchor Tom Brown, with special appearances by members of the CTV Toronto team, report from Maple Leaf Square on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. broadcasting live for CTV Toronto’s NEWS AT SIX. Taking place on a Toronto Maple Leafs game night at Leafs headquarters, CTV Toronto places a special call out to Leafs Nation to extend their inimitable generosity to Toy Mountain by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy before heading inside to cheer on their beloved Leafs.                                                          

“For the past 18 years, Toy Mountain has harnessed the compassion and generosity of people across the city, helping to reduce the stressful challenge of celebrating the holidays for less fortunate families,” said Paul Rogers, Senior Vice-President, CTV Toronto. “All of us at CTV Toronto are incredibly thankful for the tireless support of our dedicated viewers who help us take the Toy Mountain to new heights year after year.”

Toy Mountain’s dedicated website toronto.ctvnews.ca/toymountain features a list of drop-off locations, as well as a mechanism to donate online and receive a tax receipt from The Salvation Army. Supporters of the campaign can get up-to-the-minute information on Toy Mountain events happening around the GTA by following @toymountain on Twitter and joining the campaign’s Facebook page. Corporations and individuals can get involved by visiting SalvationArmy.ca or calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Toy Mountain warmly welcomes the generosity of toy donations to all age groups. This year, a special campaign focus highlights the greatest need across the following categories: boys and girls, aged 10-13, and boys and girls, aged 14-17.

“The Salvation Army is able to reach thousands of families every Christmas because of our strong partnership with CTV and the Toy Mountain Campaign,” said Neil W. Leduke, Divisional Director of Marketing and Communications, Public Relations and Development, The Salvation Army. “Donations from generous Torontonians ensure our city’s children experience the Christmas morning they deserve.”

CTV Toronto would like to thank Toronto Area Ford Dealers, Marshalls Canada, McDonald’s Restaurants, Uncle Neil and Friends, Best Buy, and various GTA malls for their generous support of the 18^th Annual Toy Mountain Campaign.

In 2012, The Salvation Army in Toronto provided thousands of children with Christmas toys, and over 30,000 families with assorted food hampers through its Christmas assistance program.

About the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international faith-based organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and every day in 400 communities across Canada and more than 120 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

About CTV Toronto

CTV Toronto is CTV’s flagship station and winner of the 2010 Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence by the Radio-Television Digital News Association. CTV Toronto’s local supper hour news program CTV News at Six joins CTV News at Noon and CTV News at 11:30 as the #1 choice for news in the Greater Toronto Area. CTV Toronto is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.  More information about CTV Toronto can be found on the network’s website at www.toronto.ctv.ca  

-CTV-

For more information, please contact:

Julie MacFarlane, Bell Media, 416-384-4623, julie.macfarlane@bellmedia.ca

Patricia Garcia, Bell Media, 416-384-2645 or patricia.garcia@bellmedia.ca