FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ron White Welcomes New Charities and Celebrities to his
14th Annual Shoe Drive for the Homeless
Academy Award Winners Matt Damon and Kevin Spacey join efforts

January 5, 2010 -- Toronto, ON - RON WHITE, Canada's leading footwear retailer, announced today that it will partner with Academy Award winners Matt Damon and Kevin Spacey, as well as legendary actress and humanitarian Mia Farrow, activist and environmentalist Robert Kennedy Jr., Will & Grace star Eric McCormack, Little Mosque on the Prairie star Zaib Shaikh, entrepreneur and Dragon's Den star Arlene Dickinson, Canadian actresses Kristin Booth and Tara Spencer-Nairn and Battle of the Blades stars Jodeyne Higgins and Sean Rice to unveil their shoes for its 14th Annual Shoe Drive for the Homeless. The Ron White Foundation is also pleased to welcome new charitable partners Dress for Success and Street Health to Canada's largest shoe drive.

The month-long event kicks off on Thursday, January 7th at RON WHITE's flagship Manulife location and will run through Sunday, February 14th at all six RON WHITE store locations. This year, an additional collection depot has been added on the Avenues Level at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Shoes and boots collected in all locations will be sorted, cleaned and distributed to shelters in need across the GTA.

"I am so proud to see our shoe drive grow to this magnitude - when this all started 14 years ago I had no idea that it would become Canada's largest shoe drive! The response has been so overwhelming that this year we are adding new charitable partners, a new collection depot and new celebrities to help support our efforts" said Ron White, CEO and Creative Director of RON WHITE. We have already collected and distributed over 18,000 shoes but in this difficult economy, the need is greater than ever. I'm asking everyone to look in their closets and to find some winter shoes with life left in them, the ones they just don't wear anymore. Bring them to us and we will get them to those in need.

All new donors shoes will be unveiled at the kick off event Thursday January 7th at the RON WHITE Manulife store. Each celebrity donor has autographed and donated their gently worn shoes to RON WHITE and several will be in attendance with Ron at the 1PM kick off. All new and alumni celebrity shoes will then be disbursed and displayed in the windows of all six RON WHITE stores in an effort to raise awareness, encourage everyone to follow in the footsteps of their favourite celebrity and help the homeless just as winters worst hits. Past RON WHITE Shoe Drive alumni include musical talents Chantal Kreviazuk, Hilary Duff and Suzie McNeil, actors Jeremy Irons, Michael Cera and Hayden Christensen, Olympic athletes Brian Orser, Kurt Browning and Adam Van Koeverden and countless Canadian media personalities, including Monika Schnarre and Ben Mulroney.
RON WHITE'S Shoe Drive for the Homeless is the largest of its kind in Canada and over the last 13 years has collected and distributed more than 18,000 shoes and boots for the men, women and children across the GTA. An initiative of the Ron White Foundation, the 14th Annual Shoe Drive for the Homeless has partnered with the Out Of The Cold program, Dress for Success, Street Health and Halton Women's Place.

About The Ron White Foundation:
The Ron White Foundation is a registered charitable foundation that focuses on raising funds, awareness and education for human rights based issues locally and internationally. Over the past 13 years, through his stores, Ron has operated an annual fundraiser in partnership with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and has run Canada's largest Shoe Drive for the Homeless. In 2009, Ron assembled a talented and seasoned Advisory Board to help bring about White Knight, a fresh fundraising gala (www.whiteknightgala.com), in aid of human rights based charities. These three initiatives form the core activities of the Ron White Foundation.

About RON WHITE:
RON WHITE is a leading Canadian footwear retailer, famous for fashion shoes that feel wonderful. Having first opened its doors in 1993, the current RON WHITE concept was born out of client demand for style-savvy shoes that were comfortable. Dubbed as Canada's very own 'Shoe-ru', Ron White has become a regularly featured fashion expert in both Canadian and international media. Renowned for creating All Day Heels, exclusive designer partnerships and a loyal celebrity following, RON WHITE is the shopping destination for the most unique collection of shoes. To view the collections, visit one of the six RON WHITE store locations or shop online at www.ronwhite.ca.

For more information, photos or to schedule an interview, please contact -
Deb McCain Communications
(416) 402-5681
Deb@debmccain.com