Two emerge victorious out of hundreds of young Canadians who competed to bring their ambitious projects to life
KIRKLAND, QC, March 19, 2013 /CNW/ - A dream to ease the suffering of patients in long-term care by making them feel beautiful again; a vision to support active living during the anxiety-provoking transition to retirement; these are the ambitious goals that drove this year's winners of the Start Something with Alesse contest, Leigh Boyle and Audrey-Ann Frenette. They will each receive a $5,000 grant in financial support and will be paired with a mentor for guidance, to give their projects wings and help get them off the ground.
The entrepreneurial determination of young Canadians is unwavering, and the two winners from this year's Start Something with Alesse contest are no exception. Boyle and Frenette each had a vision to improve the health and well-being of their communities, and created plans of action to make it happen. They rallied their community behind them to vote for their projects, and Canada answered with overwhelming support.
Now in its third year, Start Something with Alesse had hundreds of entrants from all over the country submit their ideas to "start something." Six finalists were selected, and tens of thousands of Canadians voted for their favourite idea. After an exciting race, Boyle and Frenette finished in the top spots. The four runners-up will each receive an iPad.*
Meet the Winners:
Leigh Boyle, Vancouver
A pre-med student in Vancouver, British Columbia, Leigh first got involved with providing aesthetic services to patients when she was working with an NGO in Ethiopia. She saw that caring for these women in a way the hospital could not lifted their spirits and made them more comfortable.
When she returned to Vancouver, Leigh witnessed as a friend's mother suffered the same fate; she had been admitted to hospice care, and Leigh realized that the simple act of helping her to feel beautiful made her feel more like herself. So she set to work coordinating a team of volunteer aestheticians to provide manicures, pedicures and other aesthetic and massage therapy to patients in hospice and long-term care - and The Lipstick Project was born.
"Winning the Start Something with Alesse contest is going to elevate The Lipstick Project in a number of ways," said Leigh. "We already have a dedicated team of on-site volunteers as well as operational volunteers and advisors. We are looking forward to having another expert contribute to The Lipstick Project as a mentor to help us grow the organization and make it a success!"
Audrey-Ann Frenette, Repentigny
Growing up in a small town in Quebec just outside of Montreal, Audrey-Ann was part of a close knit community - and was never at a loss for fun things to do with her friends. But when her father retired, she noticed that it wasn't as easy for him; he didn't know where to find activities to keep himself busy now that he had all this free time. Audrey-Ann wanted to address this need, by creating a guide to local activities for people at a critical stage of life transition: retirement. The guide will help people choose activities best suited to their needs, physical abilities and financial means. She will also organize presentations on the transition to retirement, to provide support and answering the tough questions, including those around health concerns.
"My father would do anything for me; I am so happy I can do something for him, and others like him who are facing this critical life transition," says Audrey-Ann. "Winning this contest will allow me to bring this program to life and truly support my community in a meaningful way."
About Start Something with Alesse
Start Something with Alesse is a one-of-a-kind initiative empowering young Canadians to articulate their personal goals and receive mentoring and financial support to "start something" unique.
Entries were accepted from August 27, 2012 until October 31, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM (EST). They were judged based on the criteria listed in the official Rules and Regulations and six finalists were selected by Start Something with Alesse 2011/2012 winners Jesse and Alyssa.
The voting period began on January 7, 2013 and ran until February 17, 2013. The two contest winners were determined based on the number of votes received.
The official contest rules and regulations along with an overview of the voting process can be found at www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca.
About Pfizer in Canada
Every day, Pfizer Canada Inc. employees work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life.
Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships, to our belief that it takes more than medication to be truly healthy. To learn more about Pfizer's More Than Medication initiative, visit morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada Inc., visit pfizer.ca.
* iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. Apple Inc. in no way endorses or sponsors the Start Something with Alesse contest.
SOURCE: Pfizer Canada Inc.
For more information or for contest entry details, please contact:
Julie-Catherine Racine
Corporate Communications
Pfizer Canada Inc.
1-866-9PFIZER
[email protected]
Ontario
Karley Ura
NATIONAL Public Relations
416-848-1425
[email protected]
Quebec
Catherine Nazair
NATIONAL Public Relations
514-843-2354
[email protected]
British Columbia
Lesley Chang
NATIONAL Public Relations
604-691-7394
[email protected]
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