Centraide and the Montreal Impact Foundation raise a record $465,000 for youth and families in difficulty

The 3^rd Centraide Cup takes place on September 6 and 7 at Stade Saputo

MONTREAL, Sept. 6, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - The Centraide Cup, a benefit corporate soccer tournament that will oppose some 300 employees from 31 large companies in the region throughout the weekend at Stade Saputo, raised a record $465,000 for Centraide and the Montreal Impact Foundation. These funds will be used to support agencies that improve the quality of life for disadvantaged children, youth and families. Since 2012, the Centraide Cup has raised a total of $1.1 million.

This was announced at noon today when two teams of young people and well-known personalities faced each other in a celebrity match that inaugurated the 3^rd annual edition of this unique tournament. The young people, who are helped by agencies supported by Centraide and the Montreal Impact Foundation, joined with former soccer player Lloyd Barker, Olympic medallist Isabelle Charest, celebrity chef Martin Juneau (Les Prix Juneau), and actors Émile Mailhiot (Yamaska), Daniel Parent (La Galère) and Joey Scarpellino (Les Parent). Former athlete Bruny Surin acted as coach.

The competition between the teams opposing each other on September 6 and 7 will be very spirited. The companies vying for the Centraide Cup are: Aéroports de Montréal, Aon Hewitt, BMO Financial Group, Bombardier, CAE, CGI, CIBC, Corner Store, Deloitte, Desjardins Group, Fasken Martineau, Ferreira Café, Hydro-Québec, Industrial Alliance, Jean Coutu Group (PJC), Laurentian Bank, Morneau Shepell, National Bank, Passion Soccer Boutique, Pharmascience, Pratt & Whitney Canada, RBC Royal Bank, Rolls-Royce, Saputo, SNC-Lavalin Group, Sobeys Québec, Standard Life, Stikeman Elliott, Suncor Energy, Touché!, and Xerox Canada.

"People want to go all out to help and that's exactly what this benefit tournament allows them do," said Lili-Anna Pereša, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal. "This event is also a great opportunity for our donors to see the results of their generosity by meeting community workers from the agencies in our network and young people we support."

"We are pleased to be collaborating with Centraide for the third year in a row, and making possible this event that allows agencies in our community to support thousands of youth and families in difficulty," added Joey Saputo, President of the Montreal Impact and Honorary Patron of the Montreal Impact Foundation.

About the Montreal Impact Foundation

The mission of the Montreal Impact Foundation is to organize and support activities that advance the education and improve the quality of life of disadvantaged children and their families. The Foundation's logo was created with its mission in mind: the child-like writing represents its reason for being, the children, while the heart symbolizes the energy and love needed to give them hope.

About Centraide

Centraide of Greater Montreal is an independent organization managed by a board of directors that is representative of the community. It serves the Island of Montreal, Laval and communities on the South Shore, supporting more than 360 community agencies and projects that help half a million vulnerable people. Centraide relies on a network of some 57,000 volunteers, 23,000 of whom work on its annual campaign. It is supported by some 1,500 private and public sector companies and organizations as well as by large trade unions. To learn more: www.centraide-mtl.org

SOURCE: Centraide of Greater Montreal

Annick Gagnon
Centraide of Greater Montreal
Tel.: [phone], ext. 242
[email protected]

Patrick Vallée
Montreal Impact
Tel.: [phone], ext. 227
[email protected]