[Boucherville], [January 15^th 2025] – Breakfast Club of Canada is informing its donors about recent changes federal government. The deadline for donations eligible for charitable tax receipts in the 2024 tax year will be extended until February 28, 2025, offering a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to maximize their financial gifts and their tax benefits.

This extension is designed to help mitigate the effects of the recent Canada Post mail stoppage. With this amendment to the Income Tax Act, Canadians now have additional time to ensure their donations reach organizations like Breakfast Club of Canada and can still be claimed for the 2024 tax year.

What Donors Need to Know:

Donations made between January 1 and February 28, 2025, are now eligible to be claimed for the 2024 tax year.
Donors should retain receipts for donations made during this period, in case they wish to include them in their 2024 tax return.
The Canada Revenue Agency is administering this change based on the government’s announcement and has confirmed it will proceed retroactively upon Parliament’s approval.

Breakfast Club of Canada depends on the generosity of donors to provide essential support to children across the country. The funds we receive enable us to serve over 650,000 breakfasts daily to children who rely on our programs to start their day ready to learn.

We encourage donors to take advantage of this extension to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families. Together, we can ensure no child in Canada starts their day on an empty stomach. Join the movement, donate now: https://www.breakfastclubcanada.org/donate

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About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Brampton, Ontario, November 22, 2024 – Breakfast Club of Canada welcomes the new agreement between the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada to expand and enhance existing student nutrition programs in the province with an investment of $108.5M over three years.

Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada, was present alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, Minister of Small Business, Michael Parsa, and Ontario’s Minister of Education, Jill Dunlop, during the official announcement event held in Brampton, northwest of Toronto.

Today’s announcement is part of the $1-billion National School Food Program investment announced in April 2024, and will allow Ontario to provide nutritious meals to over 160,000 additional students for the first year, starting this school year.

Following Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba, Ontario is the third province to sign such an agreement. Judith Barry stated, “I am confident that today will serve as a catalyst for many more agreements with other provinces. This announcement demonstrates the willingness of all stakeholders to provide the necessary nutrition for children as soon as possible. This is an important step towards fostering the well-being of Canadian families and ensuring the educational success of our children. We believe that accessing a nutritious breakfast at school is essential for a prosperous Canada.”

The Honourable Michael Parsa, Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services stated, “Ontario has a long and proud history of supporting both the Student Nutrition Program and the First Nations Student Nutrition Program. We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to ensure more children and youth across the province have access to healthier meals. This builds on our government’s investment of more than $30 million in both student nutrition programs. With this partnership, we can help give more children and youth the healthy start they need to learn, grow and succeed.”

Food costs remain high, leaving families and communities with difficult choices in the coming months. However, the prices of goods should not affect access to nutritious food or children’s success in school.

Judith Barry further emphasized, “We are ready to work with all stakeholders to bring this program to life as soon as possible, for the benefit of the children. This is yet another indication that feeding children should be everyone’s responsibility—governments, the private sector, and community partners. It is one of the best investments to support families, and care for the next generation.”

In the coming weeks and months, drawing on its 30 years of experience and dedication to nourishing children, Breakfast Club of Canada will continue to work closely with the Ontario government, school communities, First Nations partners, as well as Student Nutrition Ontario and its network of regional lead agencies, to implement the National School Food Program in Ontario.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada
Media Contact: Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514 569-3594

Breakfast Club of Canada launches holiday fundraising campaign to amplify support for high-quality breakfast programs for school children

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec, November 19, 2024 – With the holiday season approaching, Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC) is intensifying efforts to reach the 800,000 children across Canada who still lack access to a nutritious breakfast each morning in the coming years. This season, BCC is urging Canadians to make a powerful New Year’s resolution: help ensure every child starts their school day with a nourishing breakfast.

While the National School Food Program (NSFP) is slowly unfolding in some provinces and will not respond to the growing need in the country, the urgency remains. The Club continues to raise awareness among all levels of government to expedite the implementation of this important program. Despite this significant step, the needs are growing and come the new year, many children will still face the harsh reality of starting their school day on an empty stomach.

Challenges persist through the holidays

Although inflation has recently declined, the cost of living remains high. Families and communities continue to face difficult choices, especially as they look to the year ahead. The prices of goods should not affect access to nutritious food or children’s success in school.

“Since the start of the school year, Breakfast Club of Canada has been navigating dual challenges: the rising demand for new programs and the increased attendance in our existing breakfast initiatives,” says Tommy Kulczyk, President and CEO of Breakfast Club of Canada. “While we greatly appreciate the generosity of our partners and donors, it’s clear that sustained and enhanced efforts will be essential to maintain these programs and meet the growing needs of our communities.”

Join the movement

For 30 years, the Club has been at the cornerstone of the lives of children and families across the country and remains dedicated to offering a complete nutrition plan that aligns with Canada’s Food Guide. Looking forward, the Club’s goal is to expand its services to nearly 3,000 schools across the country in the coming years, offering children an equal chance of success.

As part of the holiday campaign, Canadians are invited to create lasting change and

join a movement that transcends the breakfast table. Starting today, the public can donate by texting CLUB to 20222, or going to breakfastclubcanada.org/holidays

Together, let’s help children reach their full potential.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

Since 1994, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Boucherville – November 13, 2024 – Breakfast Club of Canada is pleased to announce that this year’s annual fundraising campaign with Walmart Canada raised a remarkable $4.3 million, which includes a $1 million corporate donation from Walmart Canada. The campaign took place in more than 400 Walmart stores and online from August 29 to October 31.

Since 2003, Walmart Canada has worked with Breakfast Club of Canada, donating and raising more than $71 million to help reach students across the country. Walmart Canada is a long-time supporter of the Club’s efforts to help give all children an equal chance at success. The generosity of Walmart Canada, its customers and associates will have a significant impact on school nutrition programs across Canada, including in remote communities.

Despite ongoing efforts, Breakfast Club of Canada, school communities and community partners estimate there are still over 800,000 children who would need the Club’s support in nearly 3,000 schools. These children continue to be at risk of going to school on an empty stomach. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall, Breakfast Club of Canada remains a cornerstone in the lives of families and communities from coast to coast to coast. As a national leader in school nutrition, it has worked tirelessly since its foundation in 1994 to highlight the importance of a nutritious breakfast every morning for all children.

“For 22 years, Walmart Canada has been a major partner who understands the importance of the work we do. Their continued commitment to reaching more children across the country and the annual fundraising campaign gives us the chance to reach a large audience and encourage millions of Canadians to support our cause. Breakfast Club of Canada is grateful for the support of Walmart over the years,” highlighted Judith Barry Co-Founder & Government Relations Director.

“No child should start their day hungry, which is why breakfast programs are so important—they create a warm, caring environment where kids can begin their day with full bellies and ready to learn,” said Rob Nicol, Vice President, Communications and Corporate Affairs at Walmart Canada. “We’re proud to support Breakfast Club of Canada and of our role in setting kids up for lifelong success. We’re equally grateful for the continued support from our customers and associates, whose generosity and commitment to fighting childhood hunger continue to make a tremendous impact.”

VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/1027671021/69b1ec64ae?share=copy

About Breakfast Club of Canada

For 30 years, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfasts and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X 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 1.5 million 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 has made a commitment to regeneration – focusing on equitable opportunity, sustainability, community, ethics and integrity. Since 1994, Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $750 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada’s social media pages – Facebook, X , Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

For more information and to schedule interviews with Breakfast Club of Canada or Walmart spokespeople, please contact:

Julie Hauville – Communications & Partnerships, Breakfast Club of Canada julie.hauville@breakfastclubcanada.org

Felicia Fefer – Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada Felicia.Fefer@walmart.com

[Boucherville, Sep. 17th 2024] – Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC) is teaming up once again with Walmart Canada for its annual campaign to raise funds for school breakfast programs. This marks the 22nd year of their collaboration to help reach over 650,000 children in over 3,800 school nutrition programs.

Walmart Canada is kickstarting the campaign, which runs until Oct. 11, with a generous $1 million donation. Walmart customers are invited to participate in the campaign by donating at the checkout in-store or online at Walmart.ca.

Walmart Canada is Breakfast Club of Canada’s largest corporate partner and has more than 400 stores and over 100,000 associates supporting this very worthy cause from coast to coast to coast. Since first joining forces with Breakfast Club of Canada 22 years ago, Walmart Canada has donated and fundraised over $67 million for BCC.

Devoted to the health and well-being of children, Breakfast Club of Canada continues to work alongside valued partners such as Walmart Canada to advance its mission. With one in three children at risk of going to school hungry, and the cost of food and transportation on the rise, it is becoming increasingly challenging for BCC to sustain its breakfast programs. Donations are more critical now than ever before.

“The Breakfast Club’s mission, driven by a passion for supporting children’s well-being and helping them develop their full potential, draws its strength from solid partnerships. Every year, Walmart Canada associates and customers rally around our mission to help us serve millions of nutritious breakfasts to kids across the country,” said Paul Lethbridge, director, corporate and community giving at Breakfast Club of Canada. “We’re very grateful for Walmart’s unwavering support.”

“Walmart Canada is committed to fighting hunger and food insecurity, especially among children. We’re excited to team up with the Breakfast Club of Canada once again to raise funds and awareness about the importance of a healthy breakfast for children’s overall well-being,” said Rob Nicol, vice president communications and corporate affairs, Walmart Canada. “Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day and we want to ensure every child has access to a healthy breakfast, and, in turn, a better chance at a successful future. We look forward to another successful campaign.”

BCC works with its partners, including Walmart Canada, to raise awareness of the importance of a nutritious breakfast for children throughout the school year. In order to do so, however, it requires generous support and a strong network.

To learn more and donate to the campaign: Walmart Campaign

About Breakfast Club of Canada

For 30 years, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working with partners from all sectors to help children access a nutritious breakfast and reach their full potential. Accredited by Imagine Canada for its effective governance and recognized for its promotion of local food products, the Club helps reach children in every province and territory across the country. To learn more, visit breakfastclubcanada.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X 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 1.5 million 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’s extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $750 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca and on Walmart Canada’s social media pages – Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contact

For more information and to schedule interviews with Breakfast Club of Canada or Walmart spokespeople, please contact:

Julie Hauville – Communications & Partnerships, Breakfast Club of Canada julie.hauville@breakfastclubcanada.org

Felicia Fefer – Corporate Affairs, Walmart Canada Felicia.Fefer@walmart.com

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Aug. 20, 2024 /CNW/ – As the new school year approaches, Breakfast Club of Canada calls on Canadians to join the movement to give current and future generations an equal opportunity to succeed. Despite ongoing efforts, Breakfast Club of Canada, school communities and community partners estimate that there are still over 800,000 children who would need the Club’s support in nearly 3,000 schools. These children continue to be at risk of going to school on an empty stomach.

With the rising cost of living and limited access to nutritious food impacting households, Breakfast Club of Canada is committed to maintaining and expanding its activities to lighten the load for families and provide nutritious food to support those who need it most: schoolchildren.

“The power of breakfast cannot be underestimated,” says Tommy Kulczyk, President and CEO of Breakfast Club of Canada. “A nutritious breakfast sets the tone for a child’s entire day, impacting their ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Our back-to-school fundraising campaign is not just about breakfast; it’s about investing in the youth’s future.”

A better start for every child

Families across Canada face difficult choices as food prices have increased by an average of over 20% in the last three years. Breakfast Club of Canada is also under increased pressure, with rising demands for new breakfast programs and higher attendance at existing ones. Consequently, expenses are outpacing revenues, limiting Breakfast Club of Canada’s ability to onboard new programs to meet demand.

Last spring, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1 billion over five years for the implementation of a National School Food Program (NSFP) to strengthen existing school food programs, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, with a target of reaching 400,000 children. While the details and timelines for program implementation are yet to be clarified, it is important to highlight the significance of this major first step in the right direction.

Despite being good news, this investment unfortunately remains insufficient to meet all needs across the country. “While we are pleased to see the federal government take a great step forward and be part of the solution with private and community stakeholders, as well as provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, the fight against school hunger is far from over,” says Judith Barry, Co-founder and Government Relations Director of Breakfast Club of Canada. “The National Food School Program has yet to be implemented, and in the upcoming school year, 1 in 3 children are still at risk of going to school on an empty stomach.”

We believe in breakfast

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this fall, Breakfast Club of Canada remains a cornerstone in the lives of families and communities from coast to coast to coast. As Canada’s only national school food delivery organization, it has worked tirelessly since its foundation in 1994 to highlight the importance of a nutritious breakfast every morning for all children. For all these years, the organization and its partners have been proudly supporting breakfast programs in various ways, including offering innovative solutions designed specifically to local needs, such as adapting menus to dietary sensitivities and Indigenous traditions. These efforts also consider available resources to ensure the long-term sustainability of these programs.

The Club currently helps to reach over 650,000 children in over 3,800 school nutrition programs.

Join the Movement!

Canadians are invited to join forces to nourish the potential of tomorrow’s leaders. Starting today, the public can donate by texting CLUB to 20222, online at breakfastclubcanada.org/back-to-school.

For this important fundraising campaign, Breakfast Club of Canada can also count on the generosity of the MTY Foundation, which will double donations up to $100,000. Together, let’s help children reach their full potential.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

SOURCE Breakfast Club of Canada

Eric Aach, eaach@national.ca, 514-569-3594

Healthy Students Brighter Ontario Campaign Raises over $5M for Student Nutrition Programs

Ontario, June 19, 2024 –Breakfast Club of Canada, Student Nutrition Ontario (SNO), The Schad Foundation and The Arrell Family Foundation are pleased to announce $3.6M in donations raised during the 2023-2024 school year for the Healthy Students Brighter Ontario campaign. The fundraising campaign builds on the Government of Ontario’s commitment to provide much-needed additional support for the Ontario Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program.

Together with increased contributions from local communities and municipalities, the Student Nutrition Programs have raised more than $5 million over the school year. This meets the goal of community contributions to match the government of Ontario’s additional $5 million funding for the programs.

The Ontario Student Nutrition Program and First Nation Student Nutrition Program provide nutritious food to students in the province. The Student Nutrition Program serves more than 600,000 school-aged children and youth with healthy meals and snacks throughout the school year. The First Nations Student Nutrition Program provides more than 1.4 million nutritious meals and snacks to Indigenous children and youth across the province each year.

The campaign saw contributions from a wide range of supporters, including businesses, charitable foundations and individual donors. Major donors to the campaign included:

The Schad Foundation
The Arrell Family Foundation
General Mills
The Sprott Foundation
The Honourable Mrs. Margaret McCain
The Peter Gilgan Foundation
Maple Leaf Foods
Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security
The Grocery Foundation
SNO Lead Agencies with their communities

“SNO believes that every child has the right to start their school day nourished and ready to learn and, with the help of our communities, donors and all levels of government, together we can make it happen,” said Catherine Parsonage, past Chair, Student Nutrition Ontario.

“Having access to healthy food at school is fundamental to students’ health and learning,” said Claire Kealey Schad of The Schad Foundation. “It is our hope that this initiative inspires ongoing collaboration and continued investment in the health and potential of every child in the province.”

“The Club believes in the power of collaboration”, said Judith Barry, Co-founder and Government Relations Director at Breakfast Club of Canada. “By uniting with governments, the private sector and all stakeholders, we can ensure every child has a nutritious meal to support their education and growth.”

Student nutrition programs are crucial to the wellbeing of children and communities in the province, and are committed to continuing to work to ensure they have the funding they need to nourish students at school. The federal government’s recent commitment to school nutrition is a welcome step forward, as Ontario families continue to face economic challenges. The collective efforts of all stakeholders will be crucial to ensure the growth and success of student nutrition programs. All sectors are invited to join in the ongoing work of building a brighter future for Ontario’s children.

For more information about the Ontario Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/student-nutrition-program

Quotes:

“Nutritious food is important to children’s health and well-being, and helps support their academic performance. I am delighted to see the success of the Healthy Student Brighter Ontario campaign, which builds on the investments our government is making to support students through the Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program, ” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “We are grateful for the generosity of our partners, local community members and volunteers who contributed their time and money to help the next generation succeed.”

“Healthy eating is a key component of positive mental health, which is essential for student achievement and lifelong success,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Education. “Our government is investing over $117 million in student mental health supports for the coming school year – a 577 per cent increase since 2017-18 – and reintroducing modernized home economics education that will teach students critical life skills such as buying and cooking nutritious food.”

“When students have the proper nutrition they need to focus in the classroom, they are able to achieve incredible successes academically and bright futures overall,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs & First Nations Economic Reconciliation. “Thanks to the generosity of community partners, the First Nations Student Nutrition Program will continue to deliver more than 1.4 million nutritious meals and snacks deliver to First Nations children and youth each year, with support from the Government of Ontario.”

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Source: Breakfast Club of Canada
Information: Hermanie Desrosiers- hermanie.desrosiers@breakfastclubcanada.org, 514-882-5218

Montreal, February 26, 2021 — A whole new breed of fundraiser made its debut on Saturday, when Breakfast Club of Canada connected virtually with the community as part of a unique online charity event. Canadian platform fundky.live gave audiences the chance to tune into live game action and even have a real-time impact on how things played out on screen. For every donation, spectators received points they could redeem to introduce specific items or monsters into the game. This is the first time this kind of fundraiser has ever been held in Canada.

For the occasion, gamer MsSekky settled in for a 12-hour Minecraft marathon to benefit Breakfast Club of Canada. Spectators could either sit back and watch the adventure unfold or actually get involved by making a donation. In exchange for their contribution, they could influence what happened in the game, for example by purchasing a sword for MsSekky or sending in zombies to keep her on her toes. The initial fundraising target of feeding one child for one year was reached only an hour into the event.

“I had such a great time. Twelve hours of gaming may seem like a lot to some people, but when you’re in it and you have no idea what’s coming next, it just flies by,” said MsSekky. “What I really love is that everyone got into the experience. People who had never played Minecraft in their life were sending me zombies. I would definitely do it all over again.”

The ultimate goal was to raise enough money to feed as many children in Canada as possible, based on the fact that it costs 5 per child per year to run a breakfast program. All proceeds went straight to the Club, and a charitable receipt was automatically issued to donors.

“I decided to do this for the Club because I believe in the importance of education. When children start their school day on a full stomach, there’s a better chance they’ll do well, and that’s amazing,” said MsSekky. “I used to go to a program like that myself back in elementary school. I remember really enjoying it. I have some wonderful memories of those times, so I’d like to make sure that children today can have that same experience in their life.”

To watch a replay of the event: https://fundky.live/en/stream/260/the-fuffle-squad-brickfest.

Initial goal: 5

Total raised: ,519

800+ breakfasts
500% more than planned

All to help Breakfast Club of Canada.

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.

About MsSekky

MsSekky is a Canadian gamer in the Twitch community. She chose to give to Breakfast Club of Canada because she herself received support from a breakfast program when she was younger. She is committed to doing her part to give back. https://www.twitch.tv/mssekky

About Fundky LIVE

Fundky.live is the first Canadian platform for online live fundraising (charity streams). Fundky.live makes it possible to live-stream content from YouTube, Twitch and Zoom while collecting donations online in real time. Fundky offers virtual auctions, peer-to-peer campaigns, third-party campaigns, ticket sales and other fundraising products via a single, interconnected suite, enabling a seamless experience for charitable organizations and donors. Fundky is a product of ODE Technologies Inc. Learn more at fundky.com or follow Fundky on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter.

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For more information and interview requests:

Nathalie Rochette

Communications Director

Breakfast Club of Canada

nathalie.rochette@breakfastclubcanada.org

514-404-5660

Jade Bourdages

Managing Director

ODE Technologies – Fundky

jade.bourdages@odetechnologies.com

514-294-6166

Government of Canada had previously announced multimillion-dollar funding package to ensure children and families will continue to have access to food throughout the pandemic

Montreal, December 18, 2020 — Today, the Government of Canada revealed the details of a 0-million funding package to continue its commitment to supporting children and families experiencing food insecurity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of .5 million has been allocated to Breakfast Club of Canada through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to feed students across the country. Today’s announcement builds on funding previously announced in April and October 2020 for food banks and local food organizations, including Breakfast Club of Canada.

“Some 250,000 students usually depend on the Club and its partners for a healthy breakfast every school morning, but the total number of children and youth across the country affected by food insecurity is now greater than 2 million,” said Daniel Germain, President and Founder of Breakfast Club of Canada. “We are extremely grateful to be receiving this funding from the Government of Canada to continue to meet the growing demand. At the start of the new school year, breakfast program attendance was up 30% on average across the country and the waitlist for such programs keeps growing.”

The funding committed today will help the Club and its partners support the children who use school food programs across the country. Currently, one in three children starts their school day hungry. The safety measures and necessary program adaptations require additional investment to ensure that children can be delivered meals safely.

Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity and increased the number of children and families who need support. This funding will allow Breakfast Club of Canada to reach 200,000 more children before September 2021.

As Canada looks to build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, a National School Food Program will be the most effective and sustainable way to fully address the issue of student food insecurity in Canada. Breakfast Club of Canada and its partners look forward to working with the government to make a National School Food Program a reality and making child hunger in Canada a thing of the past. Altogether, in spring and summer2020, the Club and its community partners helped to deliver nutritious food to more than 2 million people, including close to 700,000 children.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

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For more information and interview requests:

Nathalie Rochette
Communications Director
Breakfast Club of Canada
nathalie.rochette@breakfastclubcanada.org
514-404-5660

Justine Plourde
Communications Advisor, Public Relations
Breakfast Club of Canada
justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
1-888-442-1217, ext. 3369

Results focus on Club’s priorities of advancing child and youth food nutrition and building communities capacity to help

Montreal, November 27, 2020 — For 26 years, Breakfast Club of Canada has been working hard to allow all children and youth to develop to their full potential. To better assess the direct impacts and objectives of the Club’s approach for breakfast program success, the Club launched a three-year social impact study. During the first year, the Club created the framework to identify and evaluate two main objectives that ensure the greatest impact: The advancement of the cause for mitigating food insecurity, and the reinforcement of communities’ capabilities to help.

“Over the years, the Club’s strategies were developed organically, evolving with our learnings and experiences,” says Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Impacts and Sustainable Solutions at Breakfast Club of Canada. “Our contribution to breakfast programs is supporting school communities in their efforts, but because the needs are greater than ever, we wanted to magnify the impacts of our actions to give even more Canadian children a nutritious breakfast every morning. The national consultation that has been carried out in the past months helped us identify the key elements of success, the ones that most benefit children and our stakeholders.”

The data collected during interviews in the first phase of the study shows that the following aspects are most important to the Club’s school nutrition collaborators:

The Club has the potential to play a crucial role in the national advancement of the cause by working closely with communities across the country.
The Club has the potential to carry its stakeholders’ voices and realities to ensure all implicated partners adapt their support to local community needs.
The Club’s collaborators have reported their greater need for resources and agility to help them amplify the reach and potential of their nutrition program.

These first key-learnings will be verified in the coming months through consultations with the Club’s stakeholders to measure how the organization’s support models meet the needs and expectations of the communities.

“Beyond supporting our schools and community partners feeding children every morning, we want to ensure that our contribution really answers the need,” emphasizes Marie-Josée Lapratte, co-director of programs at Breakfast Club of Canada. “By better understanding our place in the ecosystem, we want to reinforce the strengths of our local approach to increase the national impact of breakfast programs.”

On November 27, 2019, Breakfast Club of Canada announced the launch of this first impact study, generously funded through belairdirect’s partnership with the Club and conducted by CREDO, to better assess the direct results, see beyond the benefits of breakfast and allow the Club to adjust its approach to focus efforts where they can add value. With this information, the Club will capitalize on its strengths to maximize its impacts and, if necessary, refocus actions to create the most value for the Club’s network. The next steps in the impact evaluation will allow the Club to understand how the current approach serves the cause of child food insecurity and allow the organization to move closer to its ultimate goal of ensuring all Canadian children have access to a nutritious breakfast every morning.

About Breakfast Club of Canada

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For more information or to schedule interviews with a Breakfast Club of Canada spokesperson, please contact:

Tatianna Ducklow |587-897-7430 | tducklow@argylepr.com

Montreal, November 19, 2020 – Breakfast Club of Canada (BCC) wishes to thank all its generous donors and partners. While the pandemic is having a major impact on the economy and business activities, the support shown to BCC has not diminished. This support is needed more than ever as food insecurity continues to rise, motivating the Club to set the most ambitious campaign goal in its 25-year history: million. Thanks to its loyal donors and partners, Breakfast Club of Canada succeeded in raising a record .7 million to fight food insecurity that affects more than 2 million children in the country every day.

“We are honoured to have the support of Canadians as more and more families, businesses and organizations face problems in the current situation,” acknowledged BCC General Manager Tommy Kulczyk. “We want to take this opportunity to thank our generous donors who, like us, make children’s health, nutrition and education a priority.”

The funds raised will go to support the 250,000 children who use breakfast programs across the country and help meet ever-growing demand, which translates to one in three children arriving hungry at school every morning. Complying with the measures set forth by public health authorities has resulted in a significant increase in costs, especially costs related to food. Despite the record amount collected, these funds will not be enough to meet the need, given the huge impact of the pandemic on the household finances of Canadians, families in particular.

To ensure that the nutritional needs of children are met, the Club works to raise awareness among the country’s policy-makers, advocating for them to make children’s nutrition a priority. Asserting the needs and rights of children is especially important, given that Canada is the only G7 country not to have a national school food program. BCC represented Canada this week at the Global Child Nutrition Forum, stressing the urgency of implementing such a program.

To help establish solid foundations on which to build a national school food program, the Club is rallying financial allies from all spheres of activity. BCC is thankful for all of the financial donations and commitments received to support our mission and would like to acknowledge the following major donors for their generosity during this back-to-school campaign:

Lending their voices and influence, six businesswomen dedicated to children’s academic success and nutrition were part of a newly created campaign cabinet. The Club thanks them for their invaluable contributions to the campaign:

Joan Kelley Walker, Chair of the Breakfast Club of Canada Back-to-School Campaign Cabinet; Journalist, Philanthropist and Host
Shelley Mayer, Founder and President, Ramp Communications
Gail Nyberg, former Executive Director, Daily Bread Food Bank
Anne Fortin, Senior Vice President of Direct Distribution and Chief Marketing Officer, Intact Financial Corporation
Isabelle Rayle-Doiron, Vice-President, Public Affairs, and General Counsel, Danone
Brett Clapperton, Director, Community Investment and LBG Canada, SiMPACT Strategy Group

About Breakfast Club of Canada

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Media enquiries

For more information and to schedule interviews with Breakfast Club of Canada spokespeople, please contact:

Justine Plourde |1-888-442-1217, ext. 3369 | justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
Nathalie Rochette | 514-404-5660 | nathalie.rochette@breakfastclubcanada.org

Boiron Canada will match each donation to do more for kids

Montreal, November 12, 2020 – Mikaël Kingsbury, a Breakfast Club of Canada ambassador since 2017, has decided to do even more for children this year. The two-time Olympic medallist and four-time world champion will celebrate every victory during the 2020–2021 season with a 0 donation to BCC. Mikaël hopes to call attention to the organization’s work and make sure a greater number of students start their day with a healthy breakfast.

“It’s important to me to do something to celebrate every win. This year, I want to make each experience that much more special,” said Mikaël Kingsbury, the most decorated mogul skier of all time. “Of all the ingredients it takes to come out on top, perseverance is way up on the list. I want to continue to inspire kids to push themselves, with their schoolwork and with what they love to do. I know that, with the help of Breakfast Club of Canada, more of them will have the energy to make it happen every day.”

Mikaël has also started a fundraising campaign on the BCC platform give.breakfastclubcanada.org/one-win-for-kids to encourage other people to give back. Inspired by his generosity, Boiron Canada has decided to match his donations, dollar for dollar, to double the impact.

“At Boiron Canada, we have been caring about the health and wellness of young Canadians for over 30 years,” said Daniel Dereser, CEO of Boiron Canada. “We are delighted to work together with Breakfast Club of Canada and back Mikaël’s initiative. We hope this will be an incentive for other companies to undertake something similar and give to a cause they believe in.”

“We are very fortunate at BCC to be supported by some amazing ambassadors and partners who are dedicated to the cause of children’s health and education,” said Tommy Kulczyk, General Manager of Breakfast Club of Canada. “This is so important. We firmly believe that, together, we can make sure every single child in the country has access to a nutritious meal in the morning before they head into the classroom.”

Mikaël Kingsbury invites all Canadians to join him and donate to Breakfast Club of Canada via his fundraising page or text CLUB to 20222.

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For further information and to schedule an interview with a Breakfast Club of Canada spokesperson, please contact:

Justine Plourde |1-888-442-1217, ext. 3369 | justine.plourde@breakfastclubcanada.org
Nathalie Rochette | 514-404-5660 | nathalie.rochette@ breakfastclubcanada.org

To arrange an interview with Mikaël Kingsbury, please contact:

Dominique Ladouceur | 514-576-2379 | dominique@af-2.com