Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects launches annual Kids Card fundraiser

Every Kids Card purchase gives a kid in need one hour with a positive role model

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Starting today, Canadians can help provide kids time with role models by purchasing a Boston Pizza Kids Card. A $5 donation is good for five free kids meals at Boston Pizza and provides an hour with a role model for a child in need. Proceeds from Kids Cards allow Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects (BPFFP) to work with charity partners across Canada to provide children with someone in their community they can look up to for inspiration and guidance. The popular fundraiser has generated more than $4.8 million in donations since it began in 2006.

"Things start to look up for children in need when they have the right person to look up to," says Cheryl Treliving, Executive Director of Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects. "The more than $22 million that Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects has raised over the years has gone directly towards ensuring children and youth across the country have the guidance and the inspiration they need to succeed. Last year, with the support and generosity of our franchisees, staff and guests across Canada, we raised a record $890,000 through this annual in-restaurant charity promotion and we hope to break that record this year. The more than 200,000 hours of mentorship Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects helps provide, through our national charity partners, to Canadian children and youth would not be possible without the ongoing generosity of our guests throughout the country. For them, we are forever thankful."

Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects works with partner organizations to provide Canadian kids in need with role models and mentors. BPF Future Prospects partners with organizations that align with its purpose, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, JDRF, Kids Help Phone, Live Different and the Rick Hansen Foundation.

With the support of generous guests across Canada, Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects has made a tangible impact through the work of its partners, such as:

• Directly helped expand Big Brother Big Sisters' mentoring services to youth in communities that previously had no access to mentoring
• Funded the development of an artificial pancreas and the youth ambassador program through JDRF Canada which provides mentorship to young people living with type 1 diabetes
• Enabled Kids Help Phone to expand its youth online content and tools and resources for adults, garnering more than 4,000 visits every month
• Helped Live Different bring their high school presentation to more than a million students across Canada, inspiring students to live a lifestyle that cares about people.
• Aided the Rick Hansen School Program to educate more than 500,000 students across the country each year, about the importance of inclusion for people with disabilities

Boston Pizza Kids Cards are available for purchase in store and at BostonPizza.com from August 22 to October 2, 2016 and can be redeemed until June 30, 2017.  As an extra bonus, guests can register their Kids Card on their MyBP account to receive a sixth free kids meal.

About Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects
Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects was established in 2014 to raise funds and awareness for organizations that provide kids in Canada with role models and mentoring programs.  Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects is proud to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters, JDRF, Kids Help Phone, Live Different and the Rick Hansen Foundation. Since its inception in 1990, the Boston Pizza Foundation has raised and donated more than $22 million to directly improve the health and well-being of children and families.

About Boston Pizza
Boston Pizza International Inc. is Canada's No. 1 casual dining brand with more than 370 restaurants in Canada and more than $1 billion in sales. Annually, Boston Pizza serves more than 40 million guests. The company has been recognized as a Platinum Member of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. Boston Pizza believes that strong role models inspire kids to be great, and in 2014, the Boston Pizza Foundation created Future Prospects to help support organizations that mentor kids to reach their full potential. Boston Pizza International Inc. is located in Richmond, B.C., and has regional offices in Mississauga, Ontario and Laval, Quebec. For more information, visit www.bostonpizza.com.

SOURCE Boston Pizza International Inc.

Image with caption: "BOSTON PIZZA FOUNDATION FUTURE PROSPECTS LAUNCHES ANNUAL KIDS CARD FUNDRAISER (CNW Group/Boston Pizza International Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160822_C4924_PHOTO_EN_756820.jpg

Brodie Thompson, High Road for Boston Pizza International, [email protected], 416-644-2277; Alexandra Cygal, Senior Director of Communications, Boston Pizza International, 905-848-2700, [email protected]