The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation awards $943,000 in donations

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation announced today financial support totaling $942,983 to 65 organizations working for the well-being of children in need across Quebec.

These donations, which were awarded during a cheque presentation ceremony at the Bell Centre on May 16, will enable organizations established in 13 administrative regions throughout the province to continue to promote an active lifestyle among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Youth from low-income families, for whom the costs associated with leisure activities are often one of the principal barriers to practicing sports, will benefit from these projects supported by the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation By supporting initiatives providing access to nearby quality equipment, infrastructure and programming for thousands of socioeconomically disadvantaged youths, the Foundation wishes to help reduce these inequalities and provide an additional incentive to the regular practice of physical activity.

"We are happy to offer our support to these organizations that address the priority needs of children from vulnerable backgrounds by allowing them to take part in physical activity programs in their community," explains Pierre Boivin, Chairman of the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation's Board of Directors. "Once again this year, we are amazed by the diversity, ingenuity and quality of the projects submitted to us, which testify to the enthusiasm of schools and community-based groups to find different ways to get local youth moving. The testimonies we heard today show all the impact that these initiatives can have, thanks to the financial assistance they received, for the future and health of these children."

The grants awarded to these organizations will, among other things, enable the offer of free summer camp stays and day camp registrations to vulnerable groups, including children living in poverty, with disabilities or with special needs. While part of the funding will help design inclusive playgrounds, build evolutive psychomotor courses, revitalize schoolyards or restore multi-sports facilities, another portion of the funds allocated will serve to purchase various sports equipment. Several donations will also be used to organize sports, leisure, and outdoor activities for nearly 15,000 young people across the province, so that they can discover various disciplines such as softball, basketball, boxing, hockey and boardsports, and thus integrate physical activity into their daily life.

These community grants are presented annually to charitable organizations supporting youth sports programming in low-income areas across the province. Eligible registered non-profits can apply online between September 1 and November 30 of each year. Submissions are reviewed by a selection committee and donations are awarded the following spring to projects that meet certain specific criteria, including having a direct impact on a significant number of children aged 4 to 17 and implementing preventive intervention strategies for the adoption of a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Since its inception in 2000, the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation has donated over $20.6 million to more than 900 charities.

2022-23 Beneficiary Organizations

Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Conseil des Anicinapek de Kitcisakik

Capitale-Nationale

Camp Portneuf

Fondation Ancrage Jeunesse

Centre-du-Québec

Association des groupes de jeunes des Hauts-Reliefs

École de la Marconi

École primaire des 2 Rivières

Polyvalente La Samarre

Chaudière-Appalaches

Centre de pédiatrie sociale de Lévis

Estrie

Carrefour accès loisirs

Club optimiste de Saint-Ludger

École primaire LaRocque

Maison des jeunes de Waterville

Lanaudière

Place jeunesse Berthier

Laurentides

Carrefour jeunesse Desjardins

Centre communautaire Cri du cœur

Maison des jeunes de La Minerve

Maison des jeunes de la Vallée de la Rouge

Laval

Centre de pédiatrie sociale Laval

Maison des jeunes du Marigot

Mauricie

École primaire Cardinal-Roy

Grands Frères Grandes Sœurs de Trois-Rivières

Montérégie

Maison internationale de la Rive-Sud

Montréal

BGC Dawson

Camp Amy Molson

Camp Olier

Centre communautaire Bon Courage

Centre d'initiatives pour le développement communautaire l'Unité

Centre haïtien d'animation et d'intervention sociales (CHAIS)

CESAM

Champions for Life Foundation

Cuisines et vie collectives St-Roch

École internationale Wilfrid-Pelletier

École primaire du Grand-Héron

École primaire Jacques-Rousseau (Fondation de la Pointe-de-l'Île)

École primaire Saint-Albert-le-Grand

École primaire Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-la-Salle (Fondation pour les élèves de Montréal)

École secondaire Dalbé-Viau

Fondation des jeunes de la DPJ

Fondation Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais

Friendship Circle of Montreal

Giant Steps Foundation

HitFit Organisation

Jeunes sportifs d'Hochelaga

Loisirs communautaires Saint-Michel

Maison Caracol

Maison de la famille de Saint-Léonard

Maison des enfants de l'île de Montréal

Maison des jeunes de LaSalle

Maison des jeunes L'Escampette

Mener autrement

Montreal Community Cares Foundation

Portage

Projet Harmonie

Sun Youth

Toujours ensemble

Trevor Williams Kids Foundation

Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre

Outaouais

Base de plein air Air-Eau-Bois

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

Corporation les Adolescents et la Vie de Quartier de Chicoutimi

Havre du Fjord

Local Jeunes Centre-ville de Chicoutimi

Maison de l'Espoir Saguenay-Lac Saint-Jean

Maison des jeunes du Bas-Saguenay

OTJ de Petit-Saguenay

About the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation

The Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization that encourages physical activity and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among underprivileged youth aged 4 to 17 years old. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has invested over $43 million in the community. The Foundation fulfills its mandate in two ways: first, through a unique flagship project - the BLEU BLANC BOUGE program - which consists of building and activating community refrigerated and multisport rinks; secondly, by providing financial support to more than 900 charitable endeavours, working for the well-being of the most vulnerable children across the province of Quebec, whose projects and programs enable children to adopt healthy lifestyles by being more active. For more information, visit foundation.canadiens.com.