Kids Help Phone/Jeunesse, J'écoute announces François Jolicoeur's appointment to its Board of Directors

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Kids Help Phone, a Canadian and world leader in providing vital, innovative and professional counselling services to children and youth, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. François Jolicoeur to the organization's national Board of Directors. He brings to his role nearly 20 years' of senior and executive-level sales and marketing experience in Canada and internationally, and a passionate commitment to the mental health and well-being of young people in Quebec and the rest of Canada.

"The expertise that Mr. Jolicoeur brings to our Board of Directors will ensure that Kids Help Phone continues to grow its reach in both French and English markets," says Deb Craven, Kids Help Phone Board Chair. "We are delighted to welcome François to our team, where his leadership will benefit a service that is a lifeline for the *6.5 million young people in Canada, including nearly 1.4 million in Quebec."

"We are so pleased to have Mr. Jolicoeur join our organization in this essential governance role," adds Sharon Wood, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "I know he will make important strategic contribution to the branding, marketing and promotion of our bilingual service and our youth outreach programs, among other areas, as we continue our work providing vital support for young people's mental health and well-being.  His energy and enthusiasm, as well as his passionate commitment for the cause have already made an important impact within our team. "

About François Jolicoeur
As the Vice President and General Manager of Client Services for LoyaltyOne in Quebec and the Atlantic region, François Jolicoeur is an integral part of the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's premiere coalition loyalty program, owned and operated by LoyaltyOne. Drawing on his extensive background in retail and client services, Mr. Jolicoeur leads a team that provides retailers with insight-based strategies and coalition loyalty solutions to link brand marketing to measurable sales results. Prior to joining LoyaltyOne, he spent 13 years at Danone, a leading Canadian producer and manufacturer of yoghurt and dairy products, where he held senior level positions in sales, brand management and shopper strategy. During his tenure with Danone, he led business relationships in many major European markets including France and Belgium. Mr. Jolicoeur has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

For a complete list of Kids Help Phone's Board of Directors, please visit http://org.jeunessejecoute.ca/en/about-us/board-of-directors/

* Source: Represents the age group Kids Help Phone serves (from five to 20) according to Statistics Canada, 2012.

About Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is a Canadian and world leader, known for our expertise in providing vital, innovative counselling services to children and youth. Since 1989 we have offered children, teens and young adults in Canada a critical lifeline of hope and support, through our free, anonymous and confidential service. Our professional counsellors support the mental health and well-being of young people ages five to 20, in urban, rural, and remote communities, by providing one-on-one counselling, information and resources by phone and online. Our internationally recognized, award-winning websites are considered a model of child-focused interactive design, and offer online counseling forums and engaging, therapeutic games, tools and information to encourage resilience and self-care. A community-based national charity, Kids Help Phone receives no guaranteed ongoing financial support from government or any large funder and relies on community and corporate support to keep our essential service available. We're there for the 6.5 million young people in Canada, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and in French.

For information on service evaluations that have shown Kids Help Phone leads to significant improvements in youth mental health, please visit www.kidshelpphone.ca/proofpositive.

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SOURCE: Kids Help Phone

For further information:

Debbie Jussome
Kids Help Phone/Jeunesse, J'écoute
Marketing and Communication Manager, French Markets
[email protected]
Cell: [phone]