42nd Centraide of Greater Montreal campaign Poverty has consequences!

MONTREAL, Sept. 29, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Centraide of Greater Montreal's 2016 campaign kicked off officially at noon today in downtown Montreal. Some 20,000 marchers from the community, trade union, institutional and business sectors gathered together to show their support for the people helped by Centraide's vast network.

The 42^nd Centraide campaign will run until the end of December under the theme "Poverty has consequences." This campaign aims to raise as much money as possible to support the work of some 350 community agencies and projects in Montreal, Laval and on the South Shore.

"I want to acknowledge the generosity and determination of the tens of thousands of donors and volunteers who are contributing their time and money to ensure that Centraide's campaign will be able to support the community agencies that work with those in the greatest need," said Centraide of Greater Montreal President and Executive Director Lili-Anna Pereša.

"Centraide works to provide the best possible response to the social issues in Greater Montreal, where one out of seven people is helped by an agency in Centraide's network. I believe this response lies in solidarity among all citizens, as well as in the involvement of the business community. Together, let's give everyone the means to grow and live in dignity, by working passionately to make a difference," added Isabelle Marcoux, Chair of the Board of Transcontinental Inc., who is co-chairing the campaign with Mitch Garber, President and CEO of Caesar's Acquisition Company and Chairman of Cirque du Soleil. "If you take away Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, Quebec has the highest dropout rate in Canada. It is apparent when you visit some of the 350 agencies that serve the neediest people in Greater Montreal that school dropout and lack of good education are at the absolute core of everything that could and does go wrong in a young child's life. I hope that by supporting these agencies, we will make a difference," concluded Mr. Garber.

Launch of Generation C

To support this great fund drive, Centraide is proud to announce the launch of Generation C, a new philanthropic experience for youth aged 25 to 35. This program aims to bring about a new way of helping by allowing young people to make a donation while having unique experiences, notably in the company of Quebec entertainment personalities. Red eyeglasses without lenses will be the emblematic accessory of this new generation and of its new way to give.

Thank you to the STM, our partner, for its collaboration in the parade.

People can make a donation online at centraide-mtl.org.

Centraide of Greater Montreal is an independent organization managed by a board of directors that is representative of the community. It serves Laval, Montreal and the South Shore. Some 57,000 volunteers are involved in the some 350 agencies supported by Centraide, and another 22,000 work on its annual campaign. Centraide is supported by about 1,200 private and public corporations and organizations as well as by large trade unions.

In Quebec, there are 18 Centraides that between them support 1,500 community agencies and projects which in turn offer help and comfort to 1.3 million vulnerable people.

        

SOURCE Centraide of Greater Montreal

For further information: Annick Gagnon, Public Relations Coordinator, 514 288-1261, extension 242, [email protected]; centraide-mtl.org