TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/16/13 --

Editors Note: A photo for this release is available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwire.

Biting into a pizza feels good. It feels doubly good when the person doing the biting knows the pizza they purchased contributes to the life-saving work of Canada's renowned children's hospitals. Today, at a special event at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Pizza Pizza announced that its charitable program, Slices for Smiles, has raised more than $1 million in funds for Children's Miracle Network and its 14 affiliated hospitals.

The program was established in the fall of 2007 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the pizza chain and has raised over $1 million for children's charities across Canada to date.

"Children mean the world to us," said Pat Finelli, Chief Marketing Officer for Pizza Pizza. "They are our future and 'giving back' is really about paying it forward to the communities across Canada we are a part of. Helping to provide life-saving care for kids, through the Slices for Smiles Foundation, is what makes all of us at Pizza Pizza feel good and we are honoured to help."

Funds raised through Slices for Smiles, $275,000 in 2012 alone, remain within the communities they were raised, supporting the local Children's Miracle Network member hospital in that area. This donation will help fund critical services, leading-edge research and excellence in care for millions of children in Canada.

"We are thrilled to celebrate Pizza Pizza's incredible accomplishment and milestone," said John Hartman, Chief Operating Officer, Canada for Children's Miracle Network. "Partners like Pizza Pizza are in part responsible for the outstanding performance of our pediatric health care programs and personnel in Canada. Their contributions play a direct role in helping to save and improve the lives of our children. We look forward to nurturing this amazing partnership with Pizza Pizza and its sister brand Pizza 73."

More than 390 Pizza Pizza restaurant locations across Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia participated in the Slices for Smiles fundraiser, which took place in April and October. Special events with local Children's Miracle Network member hospitals were held with patient ambassadors and Pizza Pizza-sponsored athletes to raise awareness and stimulate donations for the cause. Donations were also collected online, by phone and through the company's iPhone app.

To learn more about Pizza Pizza's fundraising initiatives, visit the www.pizzapizza.ca/social-responsibility.

About Children's Miracle Network

Children's Miracle Network® raises funds for 170 children's hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. These hospitals, in turn, use the money where it's needed the most. When a donation is given, it stays in the community, ensuring that every dollar is helping local kids. These donations fund critical research, purchase life-saving equipment, and ensure excellence in care, all in support of our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at www.ChildrensMiracleNetwork.ca.

About Pizza Pizza Limited

Founded in 1967, Pizza Pizza Limited is Canada's pizza pioneer and one of the country's most successful quick service restaurant chains. With its Pizza Pizza and Pizza 73 banners, the company plays an active role in the communities it serves through fundraisers, donations and local sponsorships at the corporate and franchise levels. The company is guided by a mission to provide the "best food, made especially for you" with a focus on quality ingredients, customer service and continuous innovation. Visit www.pizzapizza.ca and www.pizza73.com for more information.