Starting September 13, the public can help support Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind by making a donation at any of the more than 650 LCBO stores throughout Ontario. Donation boxes for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind will be displayed at LCBO checkout counters until October 10.

Established in 1984, Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind provides guide dogs and assistance dogs to residents of Ontario. Funds raised from the LCBO Donation Box Program will be directed towards the training of these guide dogs and assistance dogs. Less than 1% of persons in Ontario living with significant vision loss, which impacts their quality of life, has a guide dog. The prevalence of vision loss in Ontario is expected to increase nearly 30 per cent in the next decade. Thus, the demand for guide dogs will also increase.

“We want to thank LCBO’s generous customers and supportive staff who help us raise significant funds and increase public awareness of our charity through their network of stores across the province,” says Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind Spokesperson Steven Doucette. “Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind operates solely through donations and this project is a great way for the public to assist us in providing guide dogs and assistance dogs to people in Ontario.”

“LCBO is pleased to partner with Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind and support a variety of worthy causes through the Giving Back In Our Community fundraising program,” says LCBO President & CEO Bob Peter. “The generosity of LCBO customers and staff enable these charitable organizations to make a significant impact in helping individuals and communities across Ontario.”

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind is one of 28 provincial and numerous local charities that will benefit from LCBO’s province-wide donation box program in 2015. In 2014, LCBO raised a total of more than $9.5 million for charities through special programs and initiatives, of which $8.8 million was raised through in-store fundraising. In addition, LCBO’s annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1.805 billion in fiscal 2014-15, excluding taxes, supports a wide range of important government programs, services and priorities, including health care, education, infrastructure and other important public services.

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind thanks the public for its support when shopping at their local LCBO store from September 13 – October 10, 2015.