Toronto, ON- On Thursday, April 6, more than $500,000 was raised at Battle of the Brains® 2006, the signature, black-tie gala of Invest in Kids, a national charity whose aim is to strengthen parenting knowledge, skills and confidence to ensure the healthy development of children from birth to age five.

With the CBC's Canadian Broadcasting Centre as the host venue, corporate rivalry and philanthropy took on new meanings as 500 individuals--representing 50 of the most prestigious companies in corporate Canada--tested their wits, in a bid for the Battle Cup and helped raise funds to create resources and services to help Canadian parents give their children the best possible start.

"We are grateful to the companies that support Invest in Kids' Battle of the Brains," says Nancy Birnbaum, President and CEO of Invest in Kids. "They help raise much needed funds to create the resources parents of young children tell us they both need and want to be a positive parent, actively supporting their child's healthy development. Part of the proceeds will go towards maintaining and enhancing our website, www.investinkids.ca, which offers parents across the country a wealth of practical information on positive parenting and child development and is accessible 24/7, to all Canadian parents no matter where they live."

"The work of Invest in Kids is of paramount importance to all of us," says Lou Pagnutti, President & CEO of Ernst & Young LLP and Chair of Battle of the Brains® 2006. "Parenting is a joy but there is no play book. By supporting Invest in Kids we all help to create even more opportunities to reach parents, and ultimately create better futures for our youngest children."

The event was held at CBC's Canadian Broadcasting Centre and was hosted by Evan Solomon (CBC News: Sunday). Other well-known CBC journalists and broadcasters lending their support included Dianne Buckner (Venture), Linden MacIntyre (the fifth estate), Carole MacNeil (CBC News Sunday), Nancy Wilson (CBC News: Today) and Mark Day (Hockeyville).

After 11 intense rounds of skill-testing questions, Capital One Services (Canada) Inc. triumphed over such event rivals as Canaccord Adams (second place), defending champs RBC Capital Markets, Unilever Canada, Dundee Wealth Management, Barrick Gold Corporation, Scotia Capital, BMO Nesbitt Burns, CIBC World Markets Children's Miracle Foundation, TD Bank Financial Group, Fidelity Investments Canada and Ernst & Young.

Invest in Kids' Battle of the Brains® 2006 was hosted by CBC Television. Sponsors included Ernst & Young LLP, Accenture, RIM, KP Graphics, Graphicworks, Presidential Gourmet, Vincor International, Breyers and Ferrero Canada.

To learn more about Positive Parenting and how young children grow and develop from birth to age 5, please visit www.investinkids.ca.

Invest in Kids is a national charity dedicated to helping parents become the parents they want and need to be. By translating the science of parenting and child development into engaging, easy-to-understand, relevant resources for parents and professionals, Invest in Kids aims to strengthen the parenting knowledge, skills and confidence of all those who touch the lives of our youngest children to ensure the healthy social, emotional and intellectual development of children from birth to age five.

Invest in Kids has offices in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta and British Columbia.

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