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Monday, December 24, 2007
Aliant and the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers present more than $90,000 to local charities during annual Christmas campaign

St. John’s, NL – This holiday season, Aliant and the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers have donated over $90,000 to support 65 charities in communities throughout the province. The donations were announced today at the annual Christmas Eve celebrations at Aliant.

The celebration at Aliant’s Fort William Building location has been a Christmas tradition for over 20 years. Representatives from a number of charities were on hand to receive their donations and were joined by Aliant employees, retirees and their families.

“This is a special holiday tradition here at Aliant,” said Sharon Duggan, Vice President Customer Experience. “Aliant, the Aliant Pioneers, our employees and retirees give generously of their time and money to many community programs throughout the year. When you add in the tradition behind our Christmas Eve celebrations and the opportunity to share the day with family, friends and community partners, these contributions become truly special.”

“The financial and volunteer support of Aliant and the Aliant Pioneer Volunteers is critical to the success of our program,” said Al Pelley, Director of Fund Development with the Canadian Red Cross. “We have a great relationship with Aliant and the Pioneers and I know many organizations and programs in the province that depend on their support. They have a strong commitment to our communities and at this time of year their support is even more appreciated.”

Since 1985, Aliant and the Aliant Pioneers have been helping organizations in the province carry out their work at Christmas with cash contributions, volunteer work and donations of Christmas stockings. This year the Pioneers have collected over 580 stockings filled with gifts by Aliant employees. These stockings have been distributed to families in need by community based organizations such as the Association for New Canadians; the Froude Avenue Community Centre and the Single Parents Association.  Organizations receiving contributions include:
Pioneer Christmas Stockings 580 @$40 $23,200
Duke of Edinburgh Program $8,200
Community Food Sharing Association $6,000
Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre  $5,000
St. John’s R.E.A.L. Program  $5,000
Real Time Cancer $5.000
Fog Devil Scholarship Fund  
$5,000
Newspapers in Education 
$5,000
Eastern Edge Credit Union Happy Tree
 $4,000
Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Clinic
$2,000
The Canadian Red Cross
 $2,000
Eating Disorder Foundation $2,000
Heart and Stroke Foundation
$2,000
The Lupus Foundation
$1,000
Liver Foundation $500
Spina Bifida Association
$500
Corner Brook Food Bank Network
$500
   
Fort Pepperall Life Members Club
The Gathering Place
$1,000


Fort William Council/Mt. Pearl Square
Epilepsy NL
$250
Kidney Foundation
$250
Lupus Society
$250
Special Olympics
$250
Allandale Club
The Gathering Place
$200
Iris Kirby House
$200
Vera Perlin Society $200
St Vincent de Paul
 $200
Niemann Pick
$200


Clarenville Club
G.B. Cross Hospital Fund $1,500
Salvation Army Food Bank $500
Communities Food Bank, Catalina
$250
Bonavista and Area Food Bank $250
Alzheimer’s Society
$250
Parkinson Society $250
Needy family $100


Centra Council (Gander)
Gander Food Bank $250
Cara House
$250
VOCM Happy Tree
$250
School Breakfast Program $250


Exploits Club (Grand Falls - Windsor)
Salvation Army
$250
Grand Falls - Windsor Food Bank
$250
Central NL Regional Health Center
$250
Codroy Brook Trail
$150
Cara Transition House $100
VOCM Happy Tree $100
Badger Flood Scholarship Recipient $1,000


Copperbelt Club (Springdale)
Salvation Army Happy Tree - Springdale
$250
Indian River Elementray Breakfast program
$250
Green Bay Food Bank
$250
Baie Verte Ministerial Association Food Bank
$250
North West Council (Corner Brook)
Food Bank Network
$200
Corner Brook Firefighters Toy Drive
$300
Transition House
$200
Xavier House
$300
Pasadena Ministerial Association $300
Humber Elementary Breakfast Program $300


Pine Tree Club (Stephenville)
Food Bank, Port aux Basques
$200
Food Bank, Stephenville
$200
Knights of Columbus Food Drive
$200
Salvation Army Toy Drive
$200
Sick Children Foundation, Stephenville
$200
TriCon Club (Bay Roberts)
Salvation Army
$250
St. Vincent de Paul, Hr. Grace $250
CHVO Happy Tree $500


Lake Melville Club (Goose Bay)
Lake Melville Ministerial Association
 $500
Labrador Friendship Center Food Bank $500

About Bell Aliant
Bell Aliant (TSX: BA.UN) is one of North America’s largest regional communications providers. Through its operating entities it serves customers in six Canadian provinces with innovative information, communication and technology  services including voice, data, Internet, video and value-added business solutions.  Through its xwave offices, Bell Aliant also provides IT professional services in Canada and the US.  Bell Aliant’s 10,000 employees are committed to deliver the highest quality of customer service, choice and convenience. In Atlantic Canada, communications products and services are delivered to customers through the Aliant brand.

About the Aliant Pioneer volunteers
The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers are the largest corporate based volunteer organization in Atlantic Canada. They work in virtually every community across the region. The over 8,600 members are made up of current and former Aliant employees and its predecessor companies. The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers' focus on education and technology related projects within their communities. The Aliant Pioneer Volunteers are part of TelecomPioneers, the largest industry-based volunteer organization in the world. The TelecomPioneers boast nearly 620,000 men and women throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico who work together to make their communities better places in which to live and work.

For further information contact:
Mark Duggan
Aliant Communications and Public Affairs
(709) 687-3136
mark.duggan@aliant.ca