Call for Entries: Young Canadian Adults are Invited to Start Something with
Alesse

Two grants available for young, goal-oriented visionaries

KIRKLAND, QC, Nov. 10 /CNW/ - Starting today, young adults across the country aged 16 and up are invited to Start Something with Alesse. This one-of-a-kind Canadian initiative empowers young adults to creatively articulate their personal goals and will provide two winners with mentoring and financial support to help make that vision a reality. Entries can be submitted at www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca until 9:00am ET on Tuesday, January 4, 2011. 

Inspired by the resourcefulness and community focus characteristic of Generation Y (or those born between 1980 and 1999), the Start Something with Alesse contest is designed to solicit innovative proposals from young adults committed to bringing about positive change in their own lives and the lives of those around them. Examples include creating a charity, producing a play or film, or starting a company.  The possibilities are endless.

Christine Ho, co-founder of Well of Change, and Marième Ndiaye, a former MusiquePlus VJ and member of the singing group CEA, will serve as both contest judges and mentors to the two winners. Both of these women have significant experience starting something unique.

As the co-founder of Well of Change, a non-profit organization that has revolutionized the way people support not-for-profit organizations, Christine, along with partner Kevin Tsoi, has created an online platform that gives people and organizations the flexibility to donate either time or money to their charity of choice.

"I've always been passionate about giving back to the community, and I wanted to find a way to encourage young people to support their charities of choice," says Christine. "Kevin and I have been fortunate to see Well of Change continue to grow and to see the impact our work has had on various Canadian charities. I look forward to sharing my personal experiences and providing guidance to help the Start Something with Alesse winners pursue their goals."

Marième Ndiaye has pursued a decidedly different, but no less important, vision. Since 2003, Marième has been singing with the group CEA, a collective in Quebec that marries urban musical genres including funk, hip hop and soul. Her motto: "You can reach more people with celebration through music and dance."

"CEA prides itself on positive messaging and has given me the opportunity to realize my dream of being a singer while growing as an artist," says Marième. "The Start Something with Alesse contest will open many doors for the lucky winners. It is a phenomenal chance to help them realize their dreams."

"We want to see today's generation change the world," says John McKendry, Commercial Director, Pfizer Original Brands, Established Products Business Unit. "By providing resources and support to two creative and passionate individuals, we are hoping to help support them through a truly unique and self-fulfilling experience. Alesse is proud to be able to provide resources to young Canadians to help them pursue their goals and 'start something' of their own."

To enter the Start Something with Alesse contest, visit www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca. All proposals will be reviewed and six finalists will be chosen by Christine and Marième. Winners will be determined based on votes earned through online voting by the general public. The two winners will be contacted by Thursday, March 8, 2011. Alesse will provide each winner with a $5,000 grant to help them start realizing their dreams. 

About Generation Y
Unlike any generation before, Generation Y (Gen Y) has a heightened sense of community and is exceedingly creative and intuitive. Gen Y, or Millennials, are the children of the Baby Boomer generation and were born between 1980 and 1999.¹ Collectively, Gen Y is understood to be both socially conscious and volunteer-minded.²

Typically, Gen Ys also like to be challenged and often perform best under pressure.² They are interested in getting involved with companies whose leaders inspire and challenge them to grow, creating ways for them to use their talents and skills.¹ Furthermore, this generation seeks a multi-dimensional life, satisfying themselves through both their work and personal lives.¹

About Start Something with Alesse
Start Something with Alesse is a one-of-a-kind initiative empowering young Canadians to articulate their personal goals and potentially receive mentoring and financial support to "start something" unique.

The official contest rules and regulations along with an overview of how to enter can be found online at www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca.

The contest will occur in three phases including the call for entries, the voting period and the announcement of the winners.  Following the call for entries, six finalists will be selected by Christine and Marième. The contest winners will then be determined based on online votes earned during the voting phase of the program.

The deadline for entry submission is 9:00am ET on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.

About Pfizer in Canada
Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc, the world's leading biopharmaceutical company. The company is one of the largest contributors to health research in Canada. Our diversified health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products.

Every day, Pfizer Canada employees work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life.

Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships, to our belief that it takes more than medication to be truly healthy. To learn more about Pfizer's More Than Medication philosophy and programs, visit www.morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit www.pfizer.ca.

More Than Medication^® is a registered trademark of Pfizer Canada Inc.

Note to Editor
No purchase necessary.  The contest is open to residence of Canada 16 years of age and up.  The contest closes at 9:00am ET on Tuesday, January 4, 2011.  There are two grand prizes available.  The odds of winning will be determined based on the number of applicants. See www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca  for the official rules and regulations, and entry forms.  Correct answer to the mathematical skill testing question required.  The approximate retail values of the prizes are $5,000 CAD each.

References
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¹ Sujansky, Joanne and Ferri-Reed, Jan. Keeping the Millennials. 2009.
² Eisner, S. (2005). Managing Generation Y (lead article) (revised after Proceedings). Advanced Management Journal (SAM), 70 (4), 4-15.  http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~seisner/Managing.htm.  Accessed September 2010.

http://smr.newswire.ca/en/pfizer-canada/call-for-entries-start-something-with-alesse

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