Gildan to Donate U.S. $3.5 Million to Community Projects in Honduras

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - March 4, 2015) - Gildan Activewear Inc. GIL GIL today announced that it will donate the totality of a grant to be received from the Government of Honduras in the amount of more than U.S. $3.5 million (more than 74 million lempiras). The entirety of the grant will be donated to special community projects selected by Gildan, as well as other projects designated in collaboration with FUNDEIH (Foundation for the integral development of Honduras) and the Office of the First Lady of Honduras. Gildan selected four key projects aimed at improving education and health care services in the northern region of Honduras, where its operations are located, and to facilitate access to housing for its employees.

This unprecedented private initiative in Honduras is being financed through funds to be received by Gildan from the Government of Honduras in connection with its participation in an employment program named "Con Chamba Vivis Mejor" (We live better with jobs). "Gildan's positive impact on job creation in the country entitled us to receive a special grant as part of this governmental program, which we decided to redistribute entirely into educational, healthcare and housing projects, as we believe this will have a significant impact in the communities where our employees live," explained Benito Masi, Executive Vice-President, Manufacturing at Gildan. "In 2014 alone, Gildan generated more than 7,000 new jobs in Honduras, making the Company the country's top recruiter within this program," he added.

The majority of the funds will be invested in the following main projects:

--  The Dejando Huella (Leaving footprints) scholarship program of the
    Instituto Politecnico Centroamericano (IPC), a leading technical
    educational institution in Central America, which was spearheaded by
    Gildan in 2005. The donation will cover scholarships for a period of two
    years benefitting approximately 1,200 students from low income families
    who will be offered the opportunity to pursue technical studies at no
    cost. This donation will mark Gildan's tenth consecutive year of
    contributions towards this institution. 
--  The expansion of the Leonardo Martinez Valenzuela Hospital in the city
    of San Pedro Sula, where a significant portion of Gildan's employees
    reside. More than 16,000 childbirths occur in this hospital every year
    and approximately 800 medical examinations are performed daily. 
--  The remodeling of the Colonia Lopez Arellano Daycare in the town of
    Choloma, where Gildan's largest manufacturing complex is located, with a
    goal to improve the coverage and quality of the services extended to the
    approximately 100 children who attend this institution daily. 
--  A housing program which will directly benefit approximately 200 Gildan
    employees. The Company will be developing the criteria pertaining to the
    functioning of this program, which will be communicated at a later date.

With the support of the First Lady, Ana Garcia de Hernandez, Gildan selected other projects that will receive the balance of the funds:

--  Child protection programs developed in collaboration with UNICEF to
    provide assistance to orphans and children living in highly
    underprivileged communities at risk of exposure to violence,
    exploitation and abuse. 
--  A number of schools to be identified by Gildan and FUNDEIH in order to
    improve the schools' lavatory facilities and therefore offer a healthier
    environment for the students. 
--  A number of cultural activities will be developed and implemented in
    high risk communities as a means to prevent violence amongst youth. 
--  Centers offering recreational activities for elderly citizens will be
    constructed.

The funds invested into these projects will be fully audited by a reputable international third party.

"We would like to encourage other key international players in the textile industry as well as in other industry segments to also reinvest the funds they will be receiving from the Government as part of the Con Chamba Vivis Mejor program in order to improve living conditions in Honduras," Mr. Masi added.

With more than 27,000 employees in the country, Gildan is amongst the largest private employers in Honduras, where the majority of its manufacturing facilities are located. Throughout the years, Gildan has been a key contributor to local Honduran economic development through significant capital investments in state-of-the-art facilities employing leading working conditions, continuous job creation, and support to local businesses, in addition to ongoing investments in local community projects which have an impact on people's well-being and education.

About Gildan

Gildan is a leading supplier of quality branded basic family apparel, including T-shirts, fleece, sport shirts, underwear, socks, hosiery and shapewear. The Company sells its products under a diversified portfolio of company-owned brands, including the Gildan(R) and Gold Toe(R) brands and brand extensions, as well as the Anvil(R), Comfort Colors(R), Secret(R), Silks(R) and Therapy Plus(TM) brands. The Company also has the U.S. sock license for Under Armour(R), and licenses for Mossy Oak(R) and New Balance(R) brands. The Company distributes its products in printwear markets in the U.S. and Canada, as well as in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Company also markets its products to a broad spectrum of retailers in the U.S. and Canada. The Company also manufactures for select leading global athletic and lifestyle consumer brands.

Gildan owns and operates vertically-integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America and the Caribbean Basin to efficiently service the replenishment needs of its customers in the printwear and retail markets. Gildan has approximately 43,000 employees worldwide and is committed to industry-leading labour and environmental practices in all of its facilities. More information about the Company and its corporate citizenship practices and initiatives can be found at its corporate websites www.gildan.com and www.genuinegildan.com, respectively.

About "Con Chamba Vivis Mejor"

"Con Chamba Vivis Mejor" was created in Honduras through the Executive Decree PCM-04-2014, with the goal to create conditions to insert into the labor market the unemployed population at risk of social exclusion and vulnerability. As an incentive for participating in the program, the Honduran government recognizes every company by paying half the minimum wage received during the first three months of work for each employee hired through this program and who succeeded in achieving formal or permanent employment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Gildan Media Relations - Head Office
Anik Trudel
Vice-President, Corporate Communications
(514) 340-8919
atrudel@gildan.com


Gildan Media Relations - Honduras
Claudia Sandoval
Vice-President, Corporate Citizenship
(504) 2669-6638
csandoval@gildan.com