TORONTO, Jan. 23 /CNW/ - Invest in Kids is proud to announce that TD Bank
Financial Group will donate $250,000 over the next five years in support of
the organization's parenting, literacy and early learning programs. Invest in
Kids, a national charity dedicated to ensuring the healthy development of
Canada's youngest children, works with parents and professionals to create
practical, easy to understand parenting resources that help support the
healthy social, emotional and intellectual development of children from birth
to age five.
    "We are so pleased that TD has recognized the difference that Invest in
Kids is making in the lives and futures of Canada's children," says Invest in
Kids' CEO Nancy Birnbaum. "Research shows us that the years before five are
the most important ones in a child's life and by providing parents with the
support they both want and need, we can help them give their children the best
possible start on life."
    Invest in Kids' resources and programs are created using a parenting
framework, called Comfort, Play & Teach: A Positive Approach to Parenting(TM).
Get Set for Life(TM), a joint venture with Kids' CBC and Canadian Living, and
The Parenting Partnership(TM), a blended online and face-to-face parenting
course for expectant and first-time parents, have won praise for creating
easy-to-understand education initiatives, activities and parenting tools to
help support parents with young children. The Welcome to Parenting Box and The
First Five Years Resource Kit allow parents to better understand their child's
development and how it can be successfully supported throughout those critical
first years.
    "All parents want their children to grow up healthy and happy. This
begins with a positive start to their young and impressionable lives," said
Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group. "Invest in Kids helps to
do just that by providing parents with useful material dedicated to the
development of their children. TD is pleased to support its efforts and in
turn contribute to the overall well-being of young families."
    Without healthy children, we cannot have a healthy society and Invest in
Kids' programs offers a practical framework for parents to provide the support
their children need. The National Survey of Parents of Young Children (2002)
revealed that while 90% of parents believe that being a parent is the most
important thing they will ever do, most have limited knowledge and are lacking
confidence in their parenting skills. By translating the science of parenting
and child development into engaging, relevant resources that parents and
professionals can use in their everyday lives, Invest in Kids has been very
successful reaching parents, providing them with much-needed support in their
most important role as parents.

    Invest in Kids is a national charity dedicated to helping parents become
the parents they want and need to be. By translating the science of parenting
and child development into engaging, easy-to-understand, relevant resources
for parents and professionals, Invest in Kids aims to strengthen the parenting
knowledge, skills and confidence of all those who touch the lives of our
youngest children to ensure the healthy social, emotional and intellectual
development of children from birth to age five. For additional information,
visit www.investinkids.ca.

    TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together

    Children's health, literacy and education, and the environment are the
three primary areas of focus for TD's community giving. The major flagship
programs within these areas are: TD Children's Hospital Fund, TD Friends of
the Environment Foundation, the TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, TD
Canadian Children's Book Week, TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community
Leadership, and the TD Summer Reading Club. In addition, through the support
of our customers and employees, TD is involved with a host of national,
regional and local programs in support of diversity, arts and culture and
other causes. In 2007, TD donated $33 million to more than 2,000 charities and
not-for-profit organizations across Canada.

For further information: Media contact: Invest in Kids, Krista Lamb,
Manager, Media Relations and Publicity, (416) 977-1222 Ext. 224,
1-877-583-KIDS, klamb@investinkids.ca; TD Bank Financial Group, Jennifer
Martin, (416) 308-6473, jennifer.L.martin@td.com