TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Thanks to the incredible support of Shoppers Drug Mart Associate-owners, their store teams and customers across Canada, the 11th annual Tree of Life fundraising campaign raised over $2.8 million, an increase of 30.6 percent over last year. The Tree of Life campaign, supporting local women's health organizations, concluded.

The four-week campaign received participation from more than 1,230 Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix stores and benefited 450 local women's health organizations nationwide. Shoppers Drug Mart's Tree of Life campaign is national in scope, yet locally based, with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to women's health organizations in individual communities and neighborhoods that offer women resources to improve and maintain health in mind, body and spirit.  

"Shoppers Drug Mart is thankful to the millions of participants who helped raise over $2.8 million for women's health organizations across Canada," says Lisa Gibbs, Manager, Community Investment, Shoppers Drug Mart. "Each year, Canadian communities touch us with their support and generosity and the response this year exceeded all expectations. Through the support and commitment demonstrated by our customers, Associate-owners and their store teams, we are able to provide essential funding to local women's health organizations who strive to meet the health needs of Canadian women."

The Tree of Life campaign is one of the leading partnership programs of the Shoppers Drug Mart WOMEN platform and is held each fall. Since 2002, the Shoppers Drug Mart Tree of Life campaign has raised over $20 million for Canadian health charities. A full list of participating charities can be found at http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/Women/TOL/Beneficiaries.aspx .

"With the help of donors and community support such as Shoppers Drug Mart, Crossroads for Women is able to provide the women of Westmorland and Albert County the support they need," says Tina Thibodeau, Executive Director of Crossroads for Women Inc. "Thank you for helping us make a difference in the lives of so many women living with family violence."

About Shoppers Drug Mart WOMEN
Shoppers Drug Mart WOMEN represents the organization's commitment to improving the health of all Canadian women in body, mind and spirit. Brought to life through five partnership programs, created with leading experts and institutions in women's health, this national initiative connects women to health information and resources that help ensure their health only gets stronger. More information can be found at shoppersdrugmart.ca/women.

About Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing.  The Company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Québec).  With 1,230 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the Company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada.  The Company also licenses or owns 56 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé in Québec) and six luxury beauty destinations operating as Murale.  As well, the Company owns and operates 63 Shoppers Home Health Care stores, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services.  In addition to its retail store network, the Company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, and MediSystem Technologies Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities.

For more information, visit www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.

SOURCE Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation