will benefit from $1040 in dry grad donations to help fund its alcohol free graduation events this year.

The money was donated by local BC Liquor Store customers from Feb. 25, 2012 to March 31, 2012, and is part of a total $540,692 that was donated by BC Liquor Store customers province wide.

A total of 55 school districts participated in the campaign this year and 100 per cent of the donations collected are distributed to high schools hosting dry grad events.

The money will be used by high school dry grad committees to plan alcohol free graduation events and activities and will help supplement funds raised by parents, students and teachers who volunteer year-round to raise funds for dry grads.

Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman said, "It's great to see people across B.C. giving a little bit extra back to their communities for alcohol free grad events. The money raised will help students celebrate one of life's milestones safely and responsibly."

Other School District 91 schools also benefitted from BC Liquor Stores customer donations in their community. Houston Secondary School received $1121, Fort St. James Secondary School received $1175, Fraser Lake Elementary Secondary School received $1742 and Nechako Valley Secondary School in Vanderhoof received $561.

This year, customers of the Fort Street Signature Store in Victoria donated the highest amount, with a total of $12,509, followed by the Fort St. John store with $12,290 and the Westshore Signature Store in Langford, which raised $12,168.

Since the first annual 'Support Dry Grad campaign' was launched in 2001, more than $4.4 million has been donated by government liquor store customers for alcohol free grads.