From February 22 to March 5, 2010 a portion of the proceeds of all Laura Secord Easter Cream Eggs will go towards Easter Seals. All funds raised in English Canada will support active living programs and Easter Seals camp experiences for children with disabilities.
Visit your local Laura Secord store and show your support for Easter Seals kids!
Currently with over 130 company-owned stores across the country, Laura Secord is Canada’s largest and best known chocolatier, selling premium chocolates, ice cream and other types of candies. With more than 400 products, Laura Secord still follows the time-honoured recipes and dedication to quality and excellent customer service as when the company first started. Every product carries an unconditional guarantee for quality. Laura Secord is dedicated to helping the community. They make many product donations every year to registered charities helping children and youth.
Imagine reading story about a young child in need. What would you do?
For Al Johnston, it was a no-brainer. He sprung into action to ensure that little boy found a home. He contacted the proper authorities and advised his nephew of the situation. A little while later, Al’s nephew adopted the little boy. That was more than 30 years ago. The boy who we will call ‘Kenny’ has cerebral palsy and utilizes his wheelchair to fully participate in activities. Kenny now has a girlfriend and stays in contact with Al and his wife. Knowing that Kenny is happy makes Al feel good inside.
I had the privilege of sitting down with Al recently and was amazed by all of the unselfish deeds he has performed over the years. I was so touched by his genuine and kind spirit that I felt compelled to share his inspiring stories with you.
In the 1950’s, Al was introduced to the challenges that disability presents when his son developed Polio. His son could not walk and needed medical attention. After being approached by two Shriners, he took his son to the Shriner’s hospital for an operation. Al was so grateful for the Shriner’s help that he joined their organization as part of the Khartum Komedians in 1964. His joy was entertaining children with disabilities as a clown. According to Al, “we all have a purpose in life. For me, volunteering has been a labour of love.”
Al has been a loyal supporter within the community, giving his time and financial resources for more than 40 years. His reasons for giving are quite simple. “I give to charity and in particular SMD because individuals with disabilities need our support. I know first hand how a disability can affect your life. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to give back and never expect anything in return.”
Al is not only a devoted volunteer but his commitment to his wife Esther spans 62 years. His love for her is evident by the twinkle in his eye when he speaks about her. Esther began utilizing the Parking Permit Program administered by SMD when she developed Vertigo about eight years ago. Since then Al has taken an active role in notifying drivers that park without a pass by issuing a friendly warning notice on their windshield. Al is strongly opposed to people taking advantage of these designated spots and believes the service he provides delivers his message much gentler than a fine by city police.
Even now at the age of 82, Al prides himself on filling his calendar with places to go and people to help. He can still be seen shoveling snow or cutting grass for his neighbors in need. To him, it’s just a way of life and although he has slowed down a bit he has no intention of stopping his giving ways anytime soon!
For more on Easter Seals Manitoba and the SMD Foundation, visit www.smd.mb.ca
Easter Seals is pleased to welcome two of its newest National Corporate donors, Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate Canada and Metro Inc., which offered people in Ontario and Quebec a great way give back to the community and support children with disabilities and their families.
From January to mid April, 2009 a portion of the sales of the Lindt 100 mg. Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny in Metro Inc. stores was donated to Easter Seals. Metro stores promoted the campaign through in-store signage and more than eight million promotional flyers, which were sent to customers.
Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category, offering high-quality products in more than 80 countries. Lindt & Sprungli operates eight production facilities in Europe and the United States and employs 6,300 worldwide.
With annual sales of close to $11 billion and more than 65,000 employees, Metro Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Quebec and Ontario, where it operates a network of almost 600 grocery stores under several banners, including Metro, Metro Plus, A&P, Loeb, Super C and Food Basics as well as 250 pharmacies under the Brunet, Clini Plus, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.
Team Nutrilite getting ready for their rappel during the 2008 Drop Zone in Halifax
Amway Global is committed to helping people live better lives. This commitment extends beyond its products and business opportunity to its partnership with Easter Seals. Amway Canada is proud to partner with its independent business owners and employees to support its charity of choice, Easter Seals Canada, as part of Amway’s global One by One campaign.
“Beyond the outstanding work that Easter Seals does for people with disabilities - which is obvious, our affiliation with this great organization has offered us another great way to connect with our independent business owners,” says Jim Hunking, Managing Director for Amway Global’s Canadian and Caribbean Operations. “Through support of initiatives like the Drop Zone, we’ve been able to work with our employees and IBOs towards a common goal - one which defines our company - helping people live better lives.”
Here’s how Canadian Independent Business Operators (IBOs) make a difference:
Easter Seals Drop Zone: Through its Nutrilite brand of vitamins, dietary supplements, and nutritional products, Amway supports the Easter Seals Drop Zone as National Ascending Sponsor. IBOs and Amway employees join Team Nutrilite in taking the plunge for Easter Seals. At this event, participants collect pledges and then rappel down some of the tallest buildings across Canada! It’s a leap of faith we take together to make a difference!
On-line Donations: IBOs and Customers shopping on Amway Global’s Canadian Website can make on-line donations to Easter Seals in either $10 or $25 increments.
Amway Canada is committed to helping the children and adults with disabilities live their dreams!
Staff of Price Chopper's Berwick store. Berwick was one of the top selling stores during the 2009 Paper Egg campaign.
Price Chopper Atlantic and Ontario are warmly welcomed as new partners to the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign. Price Chopper’s 25 Atlantic stores collectively raised $9,756 for Easter Seals’ programs and services, smashing its 2008 Easters Seals Paper Egg Sales of $3,012.
Price Chopper discount food stores are urban grocery stores that offer customers the most popular branded products along with their own private label brand, Compliments, at low prices everyday. Along with this great grocery selection, most Price Chopper stores offer an in-store service deli counter and baked fresh daily bakery, things you won’t find at other discount food stores. Customers will also be pleased with the wide selection of low priced, fresh, quality produce and meat available at Price Chopper.
Two rappellers grace the CREIT building in Halifax during the Drop Zone
Canadian Real Estate Investment Trust (CREIT) is founding sponsor of Easter Seals Drop Zone, helping to pioneer one of the most exciting fundraising events in Canada. Canadians are asked to be a superhero for Easter Seals and rappel off of an office building, many of which are CREIT-owned.
CREIT provides buildings as well as recruitment and cash support for Easter Seals Drop Zone, now in its fifth year. Canadians have the opportunity to rappel off the side of a building in one of 10 participating cities, so long as they raise the minimum $1500 in support of kids with disabilities.
To date, Easter Seals has raised $3.7 through the Drop Zone. This would not be possible without CREIT’s vision and stewardship.
CREIT is a real estate investment trust focused on accumulating a portfolio of high-quality real estate assets and delivering the benefits of real estate ownership to Unitholders. The primary benefit is a reliable and, over time, increasing monthly cash distribution. CREIT owns a portfolio of 160 retail, office and industrial properties.
Staff at Lawtons Drugs’ Sussex store display their egg sales and incentive prize during the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign.
Lawtons Drugs is an Atlantic Sponsor of the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign and the largest single Atlantic contributor.
Since 2005, Lawtons Drugs employees and customers have raised $277,528 in support of Easter Seals programs. It is because of them that Atlantic Canadians with disabilities have more access to mobility equipment and active living programs, such as summer camp and yearlong sport activities.
“Contributing to our community is a commitment in which all of us at Lawtons Drugs take great pride,” says Shelley Day, Interim Marketing Manager. “We are proud to sponsor Easter Seals and their Paper Egg Campaign.”
Owned and operated by Sobeys, Lawtons Drugs is an integral part of the Company’s business. Since 1907, as a small pharmacy in Halifax, Lawtons Drugs has always portrayed integrity, commitment to its employees, and a desire to consistently exceed customer expectations in service, value and product selection.
Lawtons Drugs has since grown to over 65 locations in Atlantic Canada with plans to expand even further. Lawtons Drugs has services through its PROfile programs to complement customers’ prescriptions and help them manage their family’s medication and health care needs.
Lawtons Drugs has a full line of health care, beauty, cosmetics convenience and giftware products to suit everyone’s needs.
Brandon Liston, Easter Seals New Brunswick Ambassador, encourages Paper Egg sales at The Bargain! Shop Oromocto store.
The Bargain! Shop is national sponsor of the Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign and the campaign’s highest contributor thanks to overwhelming employee support.
The Bargain! Shop stores across Canada raised $218,000 during the 2009 Easter Seals Paper Egg campaign, the largest amount any participating retailer has raised for Easter Seals during this campaign!
Since it began participating in 2007, The Bargain! Shop’s support for Easter Seals and its community has been tremendous. In fact The Bargain! Shop doubled its fundraising efforts in 2008 from 2007, raising $145,400. Due to these efforts, more Canadians with disabilities are accessing Easter Seals’ programs and services, which provide mobility and active living opportunities.
“The momentum of this campaign within the stores and Home Office is incredible”, says Tracey Herrington, 2009 Paper Egg Campaign Manager for The Bargain! Shop’s TB!S Cares. “We’ve achieved Top National Sponsor status for Easter Seals in both 2007 and 2008 and have donated a total of $223,000 collectively for the two years that we have supported the Paper Egg campaign. We owe it all to the unmatched generosity of our customers, Store Managers, Associates, and partners across Canada.”
The Bargain! Shop has 248 stores across Canada and is one of Canada’s fastest growing retail chains, having added 74 locations in 2008 with the acquisition of 71 SAAN Stores and with plans to add a minimum of three new stores in 2009. TB!S sells many brand-name products for the home that includes electronics, as well as apparel for the entire family, groceries, cleaning and health and beauty products, all at extremely low prices, everyday!
For more than 25 years, Friends of We Care has dedicated all its hard work and efforts towards assisting in sending physically disabled children to summer camps through the Easter Seals camping programs by raising funds through the Foodservice and Hospitality industry across Canada. During this time frame, Friends of We Care has contributed close to $13 million, allowing over 25,000 children with physical disabilities experience the joy of camping in facilities designed specifically for them.
The funds that are generated come through a number of special events conducted with the support of our industry Members. It is the hard work and efforts of our members listed below, that enables Friends of We Care to be the largest corporate contributor to Easter Seals Canada and the camping programs across Canada.
Money Mart volunteers at the Money Mart Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay in Vancouver.
Money Mart is National Title Sponsor of the Money Mart Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay, a relationship that engages at the store level. More than a thousand Money Mart employees raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Easter Seals through in-store and online fundraising.
Money Mart first launched its 24 Hour Relay fundraising campaign in 2003. Every year since then, Money Mart branches have bested their fundraising totals from the previous year, bringing Money Mart’s fundraising total to over $1.5 million.
“We cannot thank Money Mart enough for its outstanding support,” says Max Beck, CEO of Easter Seals Canada. “Every year Money Mart employees and customers continuously raise the bar, enhancing the lives of more people with disabilities. We are very grateful to partner with Money Mart which has always shown tremendous enthusiasm for making a difference in the communities it serves.”
“We are incredibly proud of our involvement with Easter Seals and can’t thank our staff and customers enough for their tremendous efforts year after year,” says Norm Miller, Money Mart’s Chief Operating Officer. “The programs and solutions provided through Easter Seals helps thousands of Canadians with disabilities in so many ways and we’re absolutely thrilled to be a part of that.”
The 29th annual Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay raised $3.2 million this June for Easter Seals programs and services. The Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay brings together more than three hundred teams in nine cities, comprising 7,500 participants who fundraise for months leading up to the 24 Hour Relay in June. Participants lace up their running shoes and bring their commitment and enthusiasm for the only 24 Hour event that mixes athletics with wacky fun. For more information: www.24hourrelay.ca.
Owned by Dollar Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: DLLR) Money Mart is Canada’s largest convenience-based retail financial services provider. A pioneer and leader in cheque cashing and payday loan services, Money Mart has served millions of Canadians since 1982 and continues to provide instant financial solutions in over 450 locations across Canada. Additional Money Mart services include Western Union money transfers, prepaid products, tax preparation, bill payments and currency exchange. For more information: www.moneymart.ca and www.dfg.com
Laura Secord Gives Back!
