The program director at Crisis Nursery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is "thrilled, absolutely thrilled!" with a $13,700, matching-fund donation from PotashCorp. The gift brings to $27,400 the total monies raised during a pancake breakfast charity event in Saskatoon.

"This is really a charity's dream come true," Lisa Welter-Mills said of PotashCorp's donation. "It's been a tremendous week, all around. I'll never forget it for as long as I live."

The event, co-sponsored by Great Western Brewing Company and Maple Leaf Foods, ran for five consecutive weekday mornings in July at Great Western's Saskatoon facilities. It's an annual affair that each year benefits a different charity. Admission was $4 per plate.

With volunteers doing the work, all money raised will be used to help cover costs associated with the daily operations of Crisis Nursery, says Welter-Mills. The nursery offers a range of services that include providing for children whose parents are going through a marital break-up, connecting parents in crisis to community resources, and helping families that have been evicted from their homes.

Welter-Mills said Crisis Nursery's needs include money to cover the mortgage, groceries, linen, diapers – "all the things it takes to keep a place like this going." Even in good times, she said, the need is there.

"Our city is growing, but lots of people are struggling to find adequate housing," she said, by way of example. "They've been looking for a while but can't find anything, and they've worn out their welcome at the sister-in-law's."

Rhonda Speiss, PotashCorp Manager, Public Relations, says the matching funds arrangement is an extension of the corporation's policy of matching employee donations to charitable causes. She said it's an important part of the corporation's community investment philosophy.

"PotashCorp is pleased to provide matching funding to this critical institution in our community," said Speiss. "Saskatoon is home to PotashCorp's head office. We're proud to support the communities where we do business."

Ron Waldman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Brewing Company, thanked PotashCorp for its substantial contribution to this year's event and said the company is the kind of organization that prefers to be "caught doing good things" rather than trumpet its benevolent deeds. In the end, he said, it's charities like Crisis Nursery that win big.

"We believe these breakfasts have a double impact," said Waldman. "They provide a financial contribution to the charity, but they also generate a broader understanding within the community as to what the charity is trying to accomplish."

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