Starting February 26th, the public can support Forests Ontario by making a donation at any of the more than 650 LCBO stores throughout Ontario. Donation boxes for Forests Ontario will be displayed at LCBO checkout counters until March 31st.

Forests Ontario is the voice for our forests. Our mission is to ensure a greener future by planting healthy and abundant forests across the province. Forests Ontario works with more than 85 partners to plant and manage 3 million trees every year. To date, we have proudly planted more than 25 million trees. Forests Ontario also connects more than 10,000 students to nature through our forestry education programs each year in an effort to support and inspire future green leaders.

The LCBO also generously supported Forests Ontario through the donation box program in 2016, raising funds for our 2016 Community Planting Weekend, which brought together hundreds of volunteers to regreen public spaces all across Ontario. In 2016, nearly 500 volunteers joined us to plant almost 3,000 trees across different communities.

“With LCBO’s support, Forests Ontario continues to connect Ontarians to green spaces and bring the benefits of trees and healthy forests to our communities,” says Rob Keen, Forests Ontario CEO. “The LCBO donation box program invites all Ontarians to support tree planting and forest restoration across the province. This support really makes a difference.”

“As a socially responsible community-minded retailer, LCBO is pleased to partner with Forests Ontario and a variety of other worthy causes through the Giving Back In Our Community fundraising program,” says LCBO President & CEO George Soleas. “Through the generosity of LCBO customers and the support of our staff, we help improve the lives of countless Ontarians and make a difference in communities across Ontario.”

Forests Ontario is one of 28 provincial and numerous local charities that will benefit from LCBO’s province-wide donation box program in 2017. In fiscal 2015/16, LCBO raised a total of more than $10.9 million for charities through in-store fundraising, special programs and initiatives. In addition, LCBO’s annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1.935 billion in fiscal year 2015-16 ending March 31, 2016, excluding taxes, supports a wide range of important government programs, services and priorities, including health care and education.

Forests Ontario thanks the public for its support when shopping at their local LCBO store from February 26th – March 31st.