Three year total rises to over $700,000 to support charities that help
    women

    TORONTO, May 20 /CNW/ - In its third year the Scotiabank Women's Charity
Challenge raised $200,000 in support of various women's charities across
Canada. Golf elite, Annika Sorenstam, Morgan Pressel and Alena Sharp, came
together to host the event at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario.
    "The funds raised today at the Scotiabank Women's Charity Challenge bring
our three-year total to over $700,000 and these funds will go a long way to
helping charities that support Canadian women professionally and personally,"
said Sylvia Chrominska, Executive Vice-President, Human Resources and Public
Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank. "Scotiabank is proud to return
as title sponsor of this event. As a long time supporter of women's charities
and a recognized leader in promoting the advancement of women, we are thrilled
to be a part of an event that reaches out to women of all ages in different
communities."
    Each of the corporate sponsored teams who took part in the event was
asked to designate a charity of choice where their entry fee would be donated.
The charities selected this year were:-   North York Women's Shelter        -   Nellies Shelter and Support for
    -   Canadian Breast Cancer                Women & Children
        Foundation & Women's Habitat      -   Sheena's Place
    -   Jennifer Ashleigh Children's      -   The Speech and Stuttering
        Charity                               Institute
    -   Times Change Women's Employment   -   Yellow Brick House &
        Service                               The Redwood
    -   YWCA                              -   Little Women for Little Women
    -   Heart & Stroke Foundation             of Afghanistan
    -   Canadian Breast Cancer            -   Canadian Women's Foundation
        Foundation                        -   Women's College Hospital
    -   Interval House                    -   Golf for the Cure
    -   Willow Breast Cancer Support &    -   Ernestine's Women's Shelter
        Resource Services                 -   Ladies First Hockey Foundation
    -   London Health Sciences Foundation -   Lupus Ontario
    -   Ovarian Cancer CanadaAnnika Sorenstam, who is playing her final season in the LPGA Tour,
hosted the Scotiabank Women's Charity Challenge for the third year in a row.
She was joined by Morgan Pressel and Hamilton native Alena Sharp who were both
part of the event for the first time.
    Nine of Canada's top nationally ranked junior girl golfers took turns
playing a hole with Sorenstam against Pressel and Sharp in a nine-hole match.
    "We were very pleased to be able to welcome Annika back to the tournament
for the third year and to welcome for the first time Morgan and Alena," said
Ms. Chrominska. "These women are great role models who embody the success that
can be achieved through hard work and dedication and I thank them for their
generosity in being a part of this tournament. I would also like to wish
Annika well in her future as she leaves the LPGA."
    The day began with teams playing a nine-hole round of golf followed by a
clinic on the driving range hosted by Sorenstam, Pressel and Sharp who
showcased their skills and answered questions from spectators. The second half
of the day included a nine-hole match where Sorenstam and a junior girl golfer
teamed up for each hole to play against Pressel and Sharp.
    The event will be televised again this year and will air on TSN on July
19, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. The one-hour segment will include highlights from the
event and interviews with all three professional players.

    Scotiabank supports a number of women's charities across Canada and
around the world. Most recently a recipient of the 2007 Catalyst Award
recognizing the advancement in women and business, and recognized as one of
Canada's top 50 employers, Scotiabank is a leader and destination workplace
for women seeking careers in the financial services industry. More than 70 per
cent of the Bank's workforce are women.

    Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live
and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally
and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic
activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships
and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas
of healthcare, education and social services. Scotiabank is on the World Wide
Web at www.scotiabank.com.