BOUCHERVILLE, June 4, 2019 – The 23rd Rendez-vous annuel de la Classique benefiting Breakfast Club of Canada took place yesterday. Between the event’s generous sponsors and the hundreds of people who turned out, a total of 1,700 was raised to help the Club nourish children’s potential.
Highlights:
- The day kicked off with a new activity, a talk moderated by Benoit Gagnon, during which Pierre Riel, Costco’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, Eastern Canada Region, answered young professionals’ questions about the connection between doing well in business and doing good in the world.
- New this year! A bicycle outing was held with the support of Jean Samson and the Défi 911 team. As part of an event organized by Ian Paquette and Nicolas Fradette, this group of police officers has been raising funds for the Club for the past 10 years. They were also honoured for their involvement during the course of the evening.
- Special thanks go out to the celebrities who have lent the Club their endorsement in recent years. Thank you to Roch Voisine, Andrée Waters, IMA and Gabrielle Destroismaisons for accepting our invitation.
- The Club is also very grateful to its main financial partners, without whom the event would not have been possible: Fortier Auto, Local 144, ACQ, Costco, Sysco, Subaru Laval, the Air Canada Foundation and ADP.
Citations :
“I am extremely happy and proud to see so many people gathered together and excited to help children reach their full potential. A group of young professionals came out to show their support for the Club for the first time by attending our power brunch, during which Pierre Riel shared his experience with a whole new generation. And once again this year, we were fortunate to enjoy the support of our long-term partners, notably Claude Lacas, who has been the driving force behind this event for 23 years.”
— Daniel Germain, President and Founder, Breakfast Club of Canada
“I’ve just joined the team, but already I can see the tremendous amount of passion and energy that goes into this event. I can only thank our partners and ambassadors who share our conviction that we must all do our part to build our children’s future.”
— Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager, Breakfast Club of Canada
“I’ve had the privilege of contributing to this event for 23 years now. My relationship with the Club is a matter of love and pride. I felt honoured once again this year to be part of this dedicated group of people and to be there to see the next page of the Club’s story be written.”
— Claude Lacas, President, Groupe Conseil C. Lacas
“I’d like to say a sincere ‘thank you’ to all the people who support the Club at events like the golf tournament and in every other way. My brothers, sisters and I were lucky enough to benefit from the Club’s services when we were younger. We got so much out of it! Even though we could have eaten breakfast at home in the mornings, we enjoyed the community experience and the sense of abundance of the breakfast program. It let us meet up with our friends and get our day off to a great start. Thank you to the Club and everyone who gives to it.”
— Gabrielle Destroismaisons, singer and Club ambassador
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.
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For further information:
Justine Plourde
Advisor, PR and communications
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1 888 442-1217, extension 3369
BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, May 29, 2019 – The Board of Directors of Breakfast Club of Canada is proud to announce the arrival of Tommy Kulczyk as the head of the Club’s management team. He will be tasked with overseeing Canada-wide operations and optimizing the organization’s development in line with the strategic priorities set forth by the Board of directors.
With its 25th anniversary just around the corner, the Club is at a turning point in its history, with a significant growth foreseen in a near future. The organization is dedicated to implementing every possible solution to fully capitalize on opportunities as they arise in order to benefit Canadian children. Adding Mr. Kulczyk to the leadership team is a decision that embodies this ambition.
Highlights
- With numerous awards and government accolades to his credit, he has earned an outstanding reputation in the non-profit and community services sectors.
- The projects he has developed and spearheaded have been lauded at the national level and their impact are evergrowing.
- His 35 years of outstanding contribution to Sun Youth and his recent experience as Montreal’s Commissioner for Children speak volumes about his tireless commitment to the younger generation and the most underprivileged members of our society.
Quotes
“Mr. Kulczyk comes to us with extensive management experience, a remarkable ability to rally stakeholders and institutions together around game-changing initiatives, and an in-depth understanding of the issues facing the Club as well as the socioeconomic and political realities underlying them. “
– Pierre Riel, Chairman of the Board of Directors
“The fact that Tommy Kulczyk accepted our invitation fills us with enormous pride. We believe that his leadership, his humanity, his integrity and his diligence will benefit our organization and the cause we all embrace of nourishing children’s health and potential, one breakfast at a time!”
– Daniel Germain, Founding-President
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.
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For further information:
Sophie Boulay
Communications Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
514 240-4262
Sophie.Boulay@clubdejeuner.org
Joining Forces to Reach Out to Even More Kids
Montreal, Tuesday, April 30, 2019 – The result of the collaborative efforts of co-chairs Isabelle Lafont and Véronique Arsenault, Breakfast Club of Canada’s Next Generation Committee officially kicked off its operations this week. Sitting on the Committee are six professionals committed to contributing to the Club’s mission of giving children an equal chance to succeed in life. To achieve this goal, the Next Generation Committee will contribute to the Club’s existing fundraisers and introduce new activities, while helping to further strengthen the network of corporate support for the life-changing work done by the organization.
Highlights:
- The six members of the Next Generation Committee are:
- Véronique Arsenault, President and Founder, Exponentiel Conseil
- Isabelle Lafont, Business Development Officer, Verger St-Paul Inc.
- Christine Barcelo, Director, Rachelle-Béry Marché Barcelo
- Marie-Catherine Girouard, Commercial Legal Counsel, Aimia Canada Inc.
- Radosveta Ilieva, Senior Advisor in Enterprise Risk Management, Loto-Québec
- Marc-Olivier Paquet, Head of Finance, Reflector Entertainment.
- The Committee’s first assignment will be to help promote the next generation brunch to be held during the Club’s annual golf tournament on June 3.
- The committee selection process also gave the Club an opportunity to connect with promising new contacts who will serve to expand the organization’s circle of supporters.
Quotes:
“There are still too many people out there who don’t realize the sheer number of children who rely on organizations like Breakfast Club of Canada. I truly believe that, by raising awareness about the Club and its vital mission, we will create a groundswell of support and inspire the business community to get involved and make a real difference for children in need.” — Christine Barcelo, Director, Rachelle Béry Marché Barcelo
“I think this is one of the most heartwarming causes there is in Quebec. And I noticed when I first started thinking about getting involved that the legal community, of which I am a proud member, is underrepresented among Club partners. I plan to leverage my own network of contacts to help diversify this support.”
— Marie-Catherine Girouard, Commercial Legal Counsel, Air Canada
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.
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For more information:
Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1-888-442-1217 #3369
PUBLICATION OF THE CLUB’S 2017–2018 ACTIVITY REPORT
Boucherville, April 17, 2019 – Breakfast Club of Canada is proud to unveil its activity report for 2017–2018. During this pivotal past year, the Club hosted the Global Child Nutrition Forum, in collaboration with the Global Child Nutrition Foundation and the UN World Food Programme’s Centre of Excellence against Hunger. In addition, the Ministry of Education of Quebec recognized the importance of nutrition in children’s education by creating a policy allowing for more breakfast programs to be created. The report also presents new statistics on the impact of breakfast programs across the country, along with up-to-date information on the Club’s level of involvement depending on the needs of the school communities served.
Highlights
- For the first time, the report includes a map showing the various roles played by Breakfast Club of Canada in each province and territory. This provides an at-a-glance look at how the Club adapts specifically to various types of needs.
- In 2017–2018, three innovative projects were set up to help an even greater number of children from coast to coast.
- In an effort to assist remote communities, an entrepreneurial project was created to feed children in three breakfast programs in La Loche, Saskatchewan, thereby having an impact on the lives of 1,100 students.
- Neighbouring communities far from urban centres benefited from the Club’s contacts to tap into new supply networks, reduce food-related expenses and enjoy easier access to more nutritious products.
- A pilot project funded by the Ministry of Family of Quebec was announced to evaluate the impact of breakfast service to early childhood centres.
- The impact of the Club’s work was also measured through two surveys conducted during the year with the help of the school administrators and parents. The results are summarized in the report.
Quotes
“Not only is our organization feeding more children and experiencing continued growth, we have also taken on a global approach, which has allowed us to galvanize multiple stakeholders and raise awareness about the critical issue of child hunger.”
– Daniel Germain, President and Founder, Breakfast Club of Canada
“Backed by 24 years of experience, Breakfast Club of Canada is now a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian philanthropic scene. We will continue to pull out all the stops to ensure that no child starts their school day on an empty stomach and gets left behind.”
– Pierre Riel, Chair of the Board of Directors
Documentation
Full 2017–2018 activity report here.
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been nourishing children’s potential by making sure as many of them as possible have access to a healthy morning meal before school, in an environment that allows their self-esteem to grow and flourish. But the Club is much more than a breakfast program: we take a broader approach that promotes the core values of engagement, enrichment and empowerment, and we team up with communities and local partners to develop solutions adapted to their specific needs. Operating from coast to coast, Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 220,000 students every day in 1,643 schools.
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For more information:
Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
1-888-442-1217 # 3369
justine.plourde@clubdejeuner.org
BOUCHERVILLE, May 31, 2019 – Breakfast Club of Canada extends its heartfelt thanks to the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, for having selected the Club as the recipient of this donation.
This gift is a vote of confidence and recognition for the work we have been doing, with purpose and passion, for nearly 25 years. Our determination to provide children with an equal chance to succeed, one breakfast at a time, has never wavered. We do everything in our power to ensure as many young Canadians as possible have access to a school breakfast program.
“We share the honour we are receiving today with all those who help us fulfill our mission every single morning,” said Daniel Germain, President and Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada. “By that we mean more than 17,500 volunteers across Canada, as well as our 84 employees, financial partners, individual donors and community partners in every provinces and territories. Because of this incredible network, 230,000 children get to enjoy daily breakfast in one of the programs supported by the Club.”
“Today’s donation is also highly symbolic,” he added. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are committed to taking care of their new baby, no matter what may arise. That is exactly what a breakfast program represents in children’s eyes. It’s a warm, welcoming place where they know they will be taken care of, valued as individuals and given a nutritious breakfast in an environment that fosters their health and well-being.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to invite all Canadians to support us in our mission. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,” Germain concluded.
Highlights
- Funding
- Will be used to open 5 new breakfast programs in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec (in an Indigenous community)
- Will benefit 500 children a day for an entire school year
- Will make it possible to serve 100,000+ breakfasts
- Will cover food-related expenses.
- In Canada, one out of four children starts the day without breakfast. That works out to more than 1 million young people who do not have access to a healthy morning meal before they step into the classroom.
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.
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For further information:
Justine Plourde
Advisor, PR and communications
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1 888 442-1217, extension 3369
Federal Government to Invest in the Creation of National School Food Program
Statement from Daniel Germain, Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada Following the 2019th Budget Announcement
“Today, we applaud the government’s historic decision to provide children from around the country with access to a healthy breakfast before they start their day. The creation of a National School Food Program is a demonstration of true leadership in building a stronger, healthier and more equitable Canada, and is also a testament to the hard work that thousands of volunteers have put into running programs nationwide. We all know that when children succeed, society succeeds. Our team at Breakfast Club of Canada is overjoyed and incredibly proud of this initiative. We have been advocating tirelessly for a national program and are eager to see this project finally come to life. Rest assured that it is with a humble heart and with great determination that we are ready to start working in collaboration with the government and the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the Food Policy, to ensure that every child gets what they deserve, a healthy breakfast and the opportunity to thrive.”
– Daniel Germain, Founding President of Breakfast Club of Canada
This event took place thanks to our generous collaborator
Montreal, February 8, 2019 – To inspire children and youth to dream big, Breakfast Club of Canada and the Air Canada foundation joined forces to welcome three Indigenous youth from British Columbia on an exceptional trip to meet Club Ambassador, Carey Price. The fifth edition of the Shooting for the Stars event saw Arianna, Lashawn and Sireasha – from Westbank, Anahim Lake and Williams Lake respectively – board an Air Canada flight to explore a new area of their country: Montreal.
Being from the Ulkaltcho reserve in Anahim Lake himself, Carey Price is able to understand the importance of an experience like this, which encourages children from communities such as his to dream big and shoot for the stars.
Highlights:
- The purpose of this visit is to inspire the children by way of meeting Carey Price, who is from the same region as they are and has been successful in fulfilling his dream; playing in the NHL.
- They had the chance to skate with Carey while creating priceless memories.
- Arianna, Lashawn and Sireasha met with the Mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, at City Hall and signed the City’s Guestbook.
- They experienced Carey Price defending the net during a Montreal Canadiens game against the Winnipeg Jets on February 7th, all the while comfortably seated in the Air Canada lodge.
- Breakfast Club of Canada in Indigenous communities:
- 226 clubs serving 24,244 children daily
Quotes:
“For these children, we know that a single spark can change their lives, or even the realities of their entire community. For this reason, nurturing these children’s dreams is especially important to us, and we are very touched and grateful to be able to play an inspiring role in their lives through the Shooting for the Stars event, orchestrated by the Air Canada Foundation and Breakfast Club of Canada.”
– Angela and Carey Price, Breakfast Club of Canada ambassadors
“It’s really amazing for me to see all the people who have worked so hard to give my granddaughter the chance to take this trip. She is incredibly lucky to have been selected and we are so touched by the generosity of Breakfast Club of Canada and the Air Canada Foundation.”
– Brenda, grandmother of Sireasha who accompanied her on this trip
“The Air Canada Foundation is proud to partner with Breakfast Club of Canada and be an integral part of an initiative like Shooting for the Stars, an event that allows young people from Indigenous communities to open their horizons while enjoying an exceptional experience! Beyond an unforgettable travel adventure, we are proud to transport them to their full potential.”
– Priscille LeBlanc, Chair of the Air Canada Foundation
“Breakfast Club of Canada is dedicated to helping children from Indigenous communities and allowing them to dream just as big as any other child. What might seem like just a trip is in fact the opportunity to partake in an out-of-the-ordinary experience, but also to create everlasting memories, and that’s why Shooting for the Stars is so important.”
– Daniel Germain, President Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada
Special thanks to our generous partners, without which this event would not be possible:
- Sheraton Montreal
- Central Mountain Air
- Limo Krystal
- La Cage – Brasserie sportive
- McDonald’s
- Cora
- Observatoire Place Ville Marie
- Montreal Science Centre
- La Grande Roue de Montréal
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Breakfast Club of Canada is a charitable organization that provides funding, equipment, training and support to school breakfast programs across the country. The Club is dedicated to ensuring every child starts their day with a nutritious morning meal, in a safe and secure environment. Founded in Quebec in 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada is present in 1,640 schools from coast to coast feeding over 220,000 children every school morning. To learn more visit breakfastclubcanada.org or find us on social media.
About the Air Canada Foundation
The Air Canada Foundation, a registered charitable organization, focused on the health and well-being of children and youth, was launched in 2012. It offers both financial and in-kind support to Canadian registered charities. Core programs include the Hospital Transportation Program which donates Aeroplan Miles to pediatric hospitals across Canada enabling children to access medical care unavailable locally and the Volunteer Involvement Program which recognizes the involvement of employees in their local community by providing airline tickets to the registered charities in support of their fundraising initiatives. The Foundation, in collaboration with the airline, also engages directly in fundraising activities such as the Every Bit Counts program, which encourages customers to donate loose change of all denominations onboard flights or through airport collection containers, as well as through various fundraising events. The Foundation also offers continued support to major health-related causes that benefit Canadians and is an active participant in international humanitarian relief activity as the need arises. For more information about the Air Canada Foundation and its impact, please visit www.aircanada.com/foundation or www.aircanada.com/citizensoftheworld2017.
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For further information:
Meagan Conn
Project Manager, Public Relations and Government Affairs
Breakfast Club of Canada
Meagan.Conn@breakfastclubcanada.org
1 866 794-4900, extension 3704
Participants came together virtually for the well-being of children across the country
Boucherville, April 19, 2021 – In this difficult period marked by the challenges and hardships associated with the pandemic, Quebecers continue to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to the well-being of children. Last Friday, hundreds of people from academic, philanthropic, political and business groups took part in the 15th edition of the Déjeuner des Grands.
Different from recent years, this festive gathering was held virtually in the form of a morning show hosted by Benoît Gagnon, radio host and Club ambassador for over 23 years. Several special guests were also present, including Mikaël Kingsbury, mogul skier, six-time Olympic gold medalist and Club Ambassador, Katerine Savard, Olympic medalist swimmer, Laurent Paquin, comedian, Daphné Létourneau, comedian, Dominic Arpin, TV host and producer, Thomas Nepveu, professional race car driver and Club ambassador, and Jonas Tomalty, singer-songwriter.
“Being a father, entrepreneur and Breakfast Club of Canada ambassador for more than 23 years, it was natural for me to want to get involved in this adapted format for the 15th edition of the Déjeuner des Grands,” explained Benoît Gagnon, radio host, entrepreneur and Club ambassador. “At a time when we are living through very difficult circumstances, it is even more important to come together to help children develop their full potential. ”
Broadcast live from the Hotel Mortagne in Boucherville, in compliance with health and safety measures, the event brought together participants from all regions of Quebec to help children have a good start to the day and develop their full potential. A total of ,606 was raised this year thanks to the generosity of all participants. Since its first edition 15 years ago, the Déjeuner des Grands has raised more than 0,000.
In order to provide participants with some additional information regarding the Club’s challenges during this pandemic, Benoît Gagnon welcomed Marie-Josée Lapratte, Co-Director of programs at Breakfast Club of Canada to discuss some of the obstacles, the growing demands and the importance of supporting breakfast programs.
“In Quebec, more than 400,000 children go to school hungry each morning,” said Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager at Breakfast Club of Canada. “Thanks to the support of our partners, we can continue to maximize our impact among young people and fight food insecurity, even in the middle of a pandemic. The power of the community has never been more apparent than in the past year. A big thank you to everyone who participated in this event and to those who continue to support our mission. Together, we can give children the energy they need to learn and succeed. “
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 257,000 children and youth in 1,887 schools across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
For more information:
Nathalie Rochette
Communications Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
nathalie.rochette@clubdejeuner.org
514–404-5660
Victoria Jaklin
Advisor, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
victoria.jaklin@breakfastclubcanada.org
514-929-6805
Montreal, July 8, 2021 – Breakfast Club of Canada announced today that the President and Founder, Daniel Germain, will be stepping down from his role as president after more than 26 years with the organization. He will nevertheless continue to actively support the Club’s mission in his capacity as founder.
Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been nurturing children’s potential by making sure as many of them as possible have access to a healthy morning meal before school, in an environment that allows their self-esteem to grow and flourish. But the Club is much more than a breakfast program, it takes a broader approach that is based on engagement, enrichment and empowerment, teaming up with communities and local partners to develop solutions adapted to their specific needs. Breakfast Club of Canada brings together hundreds of thousands of students and volunteers every morning who connect over a nutritious breakfast. More specifically, nearly 300,000 students are reached every day in communities across the country, including close to 300 First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
“The Board of Directors applauds the extraordinary work of Daniel Germain. He is a visionary and a remarkable pioneer in social entrepreneurship and food security across the country. Today, thousands of children have access to breakfast each day thanks to the path he has created. The Club is now a mature organization and is well positioned to meet the growing needs and help feed even more children across the country.”
— Louis Frenette, Member of Breakfast Club of Canada’s Board of Directors
“I’ve been preparing for the administrative handover of my duties for a few years now. It is with a sense of accomplishment that I’m saying goodbye to my role as president. I’m leaving behind an established team of professionals, who are driven and determined to help lead the efforts to promote school nutrition in Canada. I am extremely grateful to the thousands of volunteers, school staff members and Club employees who have contributed to our mission over the years, as well as all those who continue to do so every day, as well as the board members who have stood up for the organization and taught us a great deal about strategy, governance and management. My thanks also go out to the passionate partners we have teamed up with, some of whom have been with us from the very start. In the coming months, I’ll have the chance to reach out to many of these volunteers, employees and partners to thank them personally for being part of this journey, which turned into more than I ever could have imagined. A special thank you to Judith Barry, my ally from day one, for your unwavering support for this crazy dream of ours, which has become so important and so meaningful to so many.”
— Daniel Germain, President and Founder, Breakfast Club of Canada
“As Daniel moves on from his duties as president of Breakfast Club of Canada, he’s leaving much more than a long tenure behind. We will continue to carry this great responsibility and push our limits for the well-being of children, just as he did so well over the past 26 years. The team is ready to continue this important work and to surpass themselves to always do better for the children, as Daniel has always encouraged me to do.’’
— Judith Barry, Co-Founder, Director of Impact and Provincial & Territorial Government Relations, Breakfast Club of Canada
Daniel Germain will announce his future plans in the coming weeks and will take the opportunity to highlight some of the organization’s key achievements over the years.
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 257,000 children and youth in 1,887 schools across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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For more information:
Nathalie Rochette
Communications and Marketing Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
nathalie.rochette@breakfastclubcanada.org
514.404.5660
For an interview with Daniel Germain:
Joanie Noël
Communications Narimane
514-371-8317
Montreal, August 4, 2021 – Today, the Government of Canada revealed the details of a funding package to help fight food insecurity across the country. A total of $ 25 million will be allocated to Breakfast Club of Canada for the 2021-2022 school year as part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Emergency Food Security Fund.
“The pandemic continues to have a significant impact on families, and children are among the most vulnerable to food insecurity,” explained Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager at Breakfast Club of Canada. “In Canada, nearly 2 million children are at risk of going to school hungry each morning. This announcement is very good news, and we are grateful to be receiving this emergency funding from the Government of Canada. It is certainly a step in the right direction. “
The one-time government funding announced this morning will be used to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable people over the coming months. Adapting to pandemic restrictions, the Club and its network of partners are offering even more innovative and collaborative food programs by working with schools and local organizations.
While these emergency funds will be used to support the breakfast programs currently in place, the demand is still growing. A large number of schools are still on the waiting list and attendance in already supported programs has increased significantly in the past year. The needs outpace the Club’s capacity to respond.
With the important support of the Government of Canada, financial partners and generous Canadians, the Club works every day to reach as many children as possible across the country. These funds will be very useful in providing emergency aid this year, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that hunger does not prevent any child from learning and succeeding.
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 257,000 children and youth in 1,887 schools across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
For more information:
Victoria Jaklin
Advisor, Corporate Communications and Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
victoria.jaklin@breakfastclubcanada.org
Children shouldn’t have to start their day hungry
Boucherville, September 1, 2021 – Breakfast Club of Canada kicks-off its Back-to-School campaign and is appealing to the generosity of its partners and Canadians everywhere to ensure it can continue to reach the considerable number of children that have benefitted from these programs over the past year. The Club currently supports over 3,183 programs in academic and community settings and reaches 490,974 children each day. This represents an increase in attendance between 5% and 100%, depending on the province, for breakfast programs in Canada compared to the previous year. Due to the pandemic, more children are at risk of going to school on an empty stomach, which is reflected in the increased program attendance.
“While a return to a new normal is slowly approaching, the effects of the pandemic are still very present,” explained Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager of Breakfast Club of Canada. “We have seen an increase in attendance in programs across the country and we need to be able to continue to sustain the increasing demands. The Club’s objective is to reach more and more children each day and this crucial funding will help us move forward.”
Breakfast Club of Canada is raising awareness and funds to able to deliver breakfast programs in innovative and collaborative ways, no matter what Back-to-School looks like in each province. Based on recent data, nearly 2 million children are at risk of starting their day hungry. This represents 1 in 3 children who are at risk if going to school on an empty stomach every morning.
“This is a time of year that should excite students and families across the country, not leave them feeling concerned about their nutrition,” declared Judith Barry, Co-Founder, Director of Impact and Provincial & Territorial Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada. “We have a responsibility to come together to ensure that hunger does not prevent any child from learning and succeeding. It only takes to provide a nutritious breakfast to a child in need. Any type of donation, big or small, can have a significant impact for youth across the country.”
Support the cause in style
As part of this year’s campaign, the Club has designed limited edition merchandise to raise additional funds. An online pop-up shop will launch on September 8 at 10 a.m., with a limited number of hoodies to be sold. This is an opportunity to add a stylish item to your wardrobe and raise awareness about the cause. For each item sold, will be donated to the Club to help children across the country start their day off the right way.
In addition to making a purchase from the online store, there are other ways people can contribute to this campaign:
Online: www.breakfastclubcanada.org/bts2021
Text message: Text CLUB to 20222
For more information about Breakfast Club of Canada’s Back-to-School campaign: Back to School 2021
To access photo and video content: Content Portal
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 490,000 children and youth in 3,183 programs the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Media Contacts
For more information or to schedule an interview with a Breakfast Club of Canada spokesperson, please contact:
Nathalie Rochette
nathalie.rochette@clubdejeuner.org
514-404-5660
Victoria Jaklin (Eastern Canada)
victoria.jaklin@breakfastclubcanada.org
514-929-6805
Julie Hauville (Western Canada)
julie.hauville@breakfastclubcanada.org
604-617-4741
Boucherville – September 28th, 2021 – Today, Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its annual back-to-school fundraising campaign with Walmart Canada to raise money for school and community breakfast programs. These programs are crucial to help children develop healthy habits and reach their full potential especially since recent data show an increase in attendance – between 5% and 100%, depending on the province – for breakfast programs in Canada compared to the previous year.
Walmart is inviting its associates and customers to participate in this year’s campaign from September 28 to October 22 by donating at the checkout in-store and online on Walmart.ca. Walmart will also generously match customer donations, with a corporate matching grant of 0,000.
In these unpredictable times, the Club and its partners continue to raise awareness about food insecurity for children while ensuring it can continue to reach the considerable number of students that have benefitted from these programs over the past year. Despite Canada being a developed nation, 1 in 3 children risks starting school on an empty stomach.
For the past 19 years, Walmart Canada has worked with Breakfast Club of Canada, raising more than million. This long-lasting partnership is a major support for the Club and its 3,183 programs in academic and community settings across the country to feed 490,974 children each day.
“The Club is honoured to be supported by partners such as Walmart who understand the importance of the work we do for children. We can always count on their continued support and, through the annual fundraising campaign, we have the chance to reach millions of Canadians and encourage more and more people to support our cause. The strong relationship we have forged with Walmart is a compelling way to get the word out about the Club and our mission.” said Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager at Breakfast Club of Canada.
“Food plays a critical role in fueling children to learn and grow into healthy adults. That’s why Walmart Canada remains committed to using our size and scale to fight hunger and food insecurity and to deliver on our mission to help families live better,” said Nabeela Ixtabalan, Executive Vice President, People and Corporate Affairs at Walmart Canada. “Dollars raised through our annual Breakfast Club of Canada campaign will provide support and resources for school and community breakfast programs.”
About Breakfast Club of Canada
Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance, the Club provides much more than breakfast: its approach is based on commitment, self-esteem and capacity development using an optimal formula adapted to local needs. Breakfast Club of Canada helps feed more than 490,000 children and youth in 3,183 programs the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
About Walmart Canada
Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada’s flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by more than 900,000 customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada’s largest employers and is ranked one of the country’s top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada was recently recognized as a LinkedIn Top Company of 2021 and was also named one of Canada’s most popular brands (based on Google searches). Walmart Canada’s extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than 0 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.
Media Contact
For more information and to schedule interviews with Breakfast Club of Canada spokespeople, please contact:
Julie Hauville
Media Relations, Breakfast Club of Canada
julie.hauville@breakfastclubcanada.org
Felicia Fefer
Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada