2012 Annual RONA Foundation Golf Tournament Raises $535,000


BOUCHERVILLE, QUÉBEC--(Marketwire - Aug. 28, 2012) -

Editors Note: There are two photos associated with this Press Release.

The RONA Foundation is pleased to announce that the 17th Annual Golf Tournament has raised $535,000, thanks to the contribution of about 500 participants, mainly RONA suppliers. This money will be used to support projects that help young Canadians find their place in the job market and in society.

Robert Dutton, President and Chief Executive Officer of RONA and President of the Board of Directors for the RONA Foundation, took the opportunity to congratulate the first three participants who will take part in RONA's FabShop in Montréal, established in collaboration with Bois Urbain. This company, dedicated to social and occupational reintegration, will offer them training to acquire a certification in carpentry, along with the skills they need to integrate into society and the workplace.

Furthermore, thousands of items used in the 2010 Winter Olympics were produced at RONA's FabShop in Vancouver, the first to be established under the program. Items built at this facility included street barricades and picnic tables.

Unveiling a new visual identity

The RONA Foundation now proudly displays a brand new visual identity, which can be seen on its new Web site at www.fondationrona.ca.

The RONA Foundation supports programs to combat school dropout and provide training and workplace apprenticeships, as well as employment programs for disadvantaged youth. Since its creation in 1998, the Foundation has distributed nearly $5 million to various youth-oriented charitable organizations whose mission corresponds to its own. To date in 2012, RONA has contributed over $500,000 to its foundation.

About RONA

RONA inc. (TSX:RON)(TSX:RON.PR.A), is the largest Canadian distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products and operates a network of more than 800 corporate, franchise and affiliate stores of various sizes and formats. With close to 30,000 employees working under its family of banners in every region of Canada, the RONA store network generates more than $6 billion in annual retail sales.

To view the photos associated with this press release, please visit the following links: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/RONA0828_photo.jpg; http://www.marketwire.com/library/20120828-FondationRONA_A.jpg

Contact Information:

Media contact at RONA
Valerie Lamarre
514 599-5900, ext. 5271
valerie.lamarre@rona.ca

From left to right, Francine Gendron, General Manager of the RONA Foundation, Steven Lamarche, Léandre Paiement and Mathew Bakinowski, participants in RONA's FabShop in Montréal and Robert Dutton, President and Chief Executive Officer of RONA and President of the Board of Directors for the RONA Foundation. RONA Foundation