Published August 19 on CNW / Cision

Many national partners will donate and run cause campaigns to help BGC Clubs

Toronto, ON, August 19, 2021 – Whether online or in-person, when kids and teens go back to school in September, BGC Clubs across the country will be there to support them, thanks to generous funding from several caring companies.

The pandemic has been difficult for many Canadians, especially young people, and even more so for those from vulnerable and equity-deserving populations. While school supplies are always essential, our Clubs will also offer a wide range of supports that so many young people will need during the school year, from PPE to homework help, postsecondary planning to mental health check-ins, peer support groups to healthy meals before and after school, and so much more.

As the 200,000 kids and teens BGC Clubs support at 736 locations across Canada head back to school this September, many of our corporate partners have shown their dedication to young people and families through significant donations and national cause campaigns:

• Kleenex® is supporting children’s learning by donating $100,000 to BGC Clubs’ educational programs, resources, and school supplies. Kleenex is celebrating this exciting partnership with exclusive BGC back-to-school graphics on their 6-packs and 16-packs that are available in stores across Canada
• TELUS Friendly Future Foundation & TELUS: TELUS will be matching all customer donations made in-store in August and September up to $25,000 (total across all locations), a portion of sales from select sponsored products will be donated to local Clubs up to $95,000, and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has committed $100,000 to revitalize our youth mental health program Flex Your Head
• The Coca-Cola Foundation is generously donating $1 million over two years to support our Keystone youth leadership program and academic support initiatives at BGC Clubs
• Michaels Canada: For the month of August, customers can purchase select school supplies at any Michaels store and they will be donated to local BGC Clubs
• Old Navy: From August 6 to August 12, Old Navy customers who donate $5 or more to BGC Canada will receive $5 in instant savings on store purchases of $35 or more. The funds support job readiness program This Way ONward
• M&M Food Market: From August 26 to September 15, M&M customers will be encouraged to donate in-store and online to support after-school programming at BGC Clubs
• Lube: For the month of August, customers can support BGC Canada by donating to the Kids Drive Program at local Mr. Lube stores
• OSL Retail Services is donating $70,000 to support #BGCBack2School and after-school programming at BGC Clubs

The generosity of our supporters will allow BGC Clubs to continue providing safe places, in-person and virtual programs tailored to community need, and healthy, empowering relationships that help young people develop the confidence and resiliency they need to thrive when they return to school and for years to come.

If you would like to help, please consider donating to our #BGCBack2School campaign.

About BGC Canada
For 120+ years, BGC Canada has been creating opportunities for millions of Canadian kids and teens. As Canada’s largest child and youth serving charitable and community services organization, our Clubs open their doors to young people of all ages and their families at 736 locations nationwide. During out-of-school hours in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities, our trained staff and volunteers provide programs and services that help young people realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, job readiness, mental health, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

Media contact:
Jared Morrow
Media Relations Manager
jmorrow@bgccan.com
905-477-7272 x2202

Toronto, ON, October 21, 2020 – Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada launched a new campaign that reinforces the important role Boys & Girls Clubs play in building social safety nets for so many young Canadians.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and exposed serious systemic issues, from racism and other forms of discrimination to inequity and the far-reaching effects of poverty. Research shows that children who face racism are more likely to be victims of poverty and abuse, have more interactions with child welfare and the justice system, and experience challenges at school. Our new campaign juxtaposes these systemic issues with the systemic solutions that Boys & Girls Clubs across the country offer—equity, acceptance, support, opportunity.

“The core values of Boys & Girls Clubs—Belonging, Respect, Encouragement and Support, Working Together, Speaking Out—are built around inclusion and we are proud of the work we do,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “Our new Systemic Opportunity campaign encapsulates the driving force behind Boys and Girls Clubs with a simple statement: opportunity changes everything. Whether it’s homework help or a homeless shelter, a quick snack after school or the only meal of the day, a high five or a 1-to-1 mental health check-in, our Clubs offer everything a young person needs, including access to opportunities they might not find outside our walls—but could change their life.”

The campaign was developed in close collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada’s strategic and creative agency ROUND, along with the creative team of Tim Das and Sean Davison, and ROUND’s production partners Makers, School Editing, and Grayson Music.

“Boys & Girls Clubs do so much and we needed more people to understand the significant difference they make in the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids across the country. There’s no denying the power of the word ‘Systemic’. But these days, systemic is always followed up by a negative word like ‘Racism’, ‘Poverty’ or ‘Inequity’. Systemic problems require systemic change. That’s how we landed on Systemic Opportunity. Because investing in kids and youth is how we can all work to fix many of the systemic issues in our society today,” said ROUND Founding Partner & Creative Director, Paul Riss.

The campaign is not just a clever play on words. For over a century, Boys and Girls Clubs have removed barriers and created opportunities for all young people, of all backgrounds. We see firsthand the effects of systemic problems—and we know that the solution is investing in young people, in communities, in platforms that give young people a voice. We know the solution is systemic.

We are also proud to welcome beloved Canadian icon Jully Black as spokesperson for our new campaign and strong supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs.

The Systemic campaign debuted today on Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada’s social media platforms (@BGCCAN and #OpportunityChangesEverything) and will extend to television and cinema over the next few weeks.

About BGC Canada
Community-based services. Positive relationships. Life-changing programs. As Canada’s largest child- and youth-serving charitable organization, BGC provides vital programs and services to over 200,000 young people in 775 communities across Canada. During critical out-of-school hours, our Clubs help young people discover who they are, what they can do, and how they can get there. Our trained staff and volunteers give them the tools to realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, mental health, leadership, and more. Since 1900, BGC have opened their doors to children, youth, and families in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities. If a young person needs it, our Clubs provide it. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

About ROUND
ROUND is a creative and strategic partnership founded by two experienced agency leaders, Paul Riss, Creative Director and Mike Davidson, Managing Director. ROUND works with the top talent in the industry to solve business challenges through creative thinking. ROUND’s mission is to build up client brands while tearing down agency overhead. For more information, please visit WeAreRound.com. Follow ROUND on Instagram @round_advertising.

For more information, please contact:

Jared Morrow
Media Relations Manager, BGC Canada
jmorrow@bgccan.com
647.928.5801

Mike Davidson
Founding Partner & Managing Director, ROUND
mike@weareround.com
647.554.5248

The latest message from Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada (July 3). Full transcript below.

With summer here, I know that Clubs are shifting focus. Usually we go from out of school programs to summer camps, typically an intense period at most Clubs. I’m going to step away from the camera for the summer—at least for these weekly updates.

Summer camps are in for many, but not for all. And where they are in, they don’t look like normal camps—staff to camper ratios are higher, and more activities are done over a distance or in different ways, with masks, hand sanitizer, and frequent cleaning.

It’s complicated and difficult, yet you are doing the work with kids to ensure they have something that looks like a summer.

This is important not just for families who need this—a way to access childcare while they work, or seek work. This is important because kids need it. Several articles and studies are now out looking at the impact the quarantine has on kids.

Because humans are social beings, the developmental stages of childhood are vital to forming the social behaviours that are critical for adult success.

Kids learn from others. They learn how to interact, how to negotiate, how to function socially. They learn what works, and what doesn’t. They learn social instincts, and how to work and play with others. They learn ethics, responsibility, and morals.

Sure they can learn from the adults in their lives, but it is not the same as the constant interaction that comes from being with your peers.

While some time in quarantine and away from other kids is an inconvenience, the longer kids stay away from others the more detrimental the effects. We need to work on and implement safe ways for kids to get back to being kids.  To seeing their friends, interacting with their peers.

The kids are increasingly not alright. It’s not just the support system that Clubs provide outside of school and home—it’s the very nature of being young, of needing to socialize and connect.

As adults, we can often find creative ways to connect with family and friends. We can rationalize the problem and have patience.

These are not options for children and youth. They need to connect, and this summer, they need to find their peers and interact. Safely.

Let’s work together to find ways to support the children and youth of Canada. Let’s keep them safe—physically and mentally.

Stay safe, be strong, be well.