Fuelling students' dreams and desire to succeed - Pneus Bélisle and Pneus Supérieurs join TRIOOMPH Foundation to reinforce perseverance at school

MONTREAL, Feb. 14, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - TRIOOMPH Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage students to dream and to succeed, is pleased to announce a new partnership with a key player in the automotive industry in Quebec: Pneus Bélisle/Pneus Supérieurs. This strategic alliance joins Michelin Canada to support TRIOOMPH Foundation in its mission to help high-school students whose road to academic success is a challenge.

"I sincerely thank Pneus Bélisle/Pneus Supérieurs for their enthusiastic support. This new partnership, along with that of Michelin Canada, confirms the Quebec business community's interest in TRIOOMPH Foundation and its "Driving Your Success" program. The calibre of these partners and other companies who have expressed a marked interest in joining forces with us makes us very confident that the Foundation will handily attain its objectives," said François-Charles Sirois, President of Telesystem and Founder of TRIOOMPH Foundation.

"We couldn't pass up such an opportunity," stated Daniel Bélisle, Vice-president of Pneus Bélisle. "Giving back to our communities is one of our most important key values at Pneus Bélisle and Pneus Supérieurs, our affiliate company." Supporting an organization whose mission is so closely aligned with our Company's culture and whose business model is so compelling makes our involvement even more relevant. We salute the efforts of TRIOOMPH Foundation and we hope that every student participating in the "Driving Your Success" program knows that we will be there to encourage their academic success and applaud them at the finish line."

The "Driving Your Success" program, launched in October 2011, targets young people between the ages of 13 and 20 who find academics a challenge and aims to provide them with the motivation they need to obtain their high school or vocational diploma.

"The dropout rate is a major social and economic issue in Quebec," explained Sylvie Leduc, President of TRIOOMPH Foundation. "According to the ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec (2010), approximately 30% of male students and 22% of female students under the age of 20 in Quebec do not obtain their high school diploma, which is cause for concern on a human, social and economic level. TRIOOMPH Foundation and its partners hope to fuel students' dreams and show them how they can succeed by setting and staying focused on their goals and by surrounding themselves with people who support them," added Sylvie who is also the mother of a 15- and 17-year-old.

The purpose of the "Driving Your Success" program is to help motivate students to get their high-school or vocational diploma by capitalizing on the passion many of them have for high-performance cars and auto racing. The program involves pairing up driver-mentors with participating public high schools. Be they CEOs, entrepreneurs or accomplished professionals, be they men or women, these mentors all have one thing in common: a love of high-performance cars and motorsports. Some mentors are even regulars on the semi-pro racing circuit. Their mission is to ignite a spark of inspiration in their mentees by letting them in on their own secrets of success - both on the racetrack and in their careers. During the 10-month-long program, mentors play a hands-on role in four activities that allow them to interact directly with students and thereby maximize the impact of the experience.

The biggest draw of the program for many of the students who sign up for the "Driving Your Success" program is undoubtedly the high-adrenaline PRIX TRIOOMPH events. And although all those who take part in the program are winners in their own right and receive a certificate of achievement at the end of the experience, those who show an exceptional sense of determination, positive attitude and team mindset receive an additional reward: an unforgettable day at the close of the school year with the TRIOOMPH team at the ultramodern ICAR motorsport complex in Mirabel. As soon as they arrive on site, the youths are greeted by a group of driver-mentors who take them for a spin around the track in four high-performance racecars as passengers and then let them engage in a friendly competition during a simulation race.

In 2011 and 2012, some 3,330 students have signed up for the "Drive Your Success" program, and close to 10% will make it all the way through to the PRIX TRIOOMPH.

About Telesystem

Telesystem is a Canadian private capital corporation that co-owns, builds and manages innovative businesses around the world. Telesystem leverages entrepreneurship to grow businesses in the promising fields of media and technology. It works hand in hand with each of these businesses to share expertise and experience and expand their global reach. For more information, please visit www.telesystem.ca

About Pneus Bélisle - Pneus et mécanique

For 40 years, Pneus Bélisle has been making its mark as a major player in the tire industry. With 11 locations throughout Quebec, Bélisle pneus et mécanique offers a wide range of high-quality tires and a comprehensive array of mechanical services designed to meet the needs of discerning motorists. Pneus Bélisle also owns Pneus Supérieurs, one of Quebec's leading tire wholesalers and resellers. And its commercial affiliate, Bélisle commercial, caters to agricultural and civil engineering vehicles as well as heavy-duty trucks, providing such services as fleet inspections, tire retreading and workshop intervention. You can count on the Pneus Bélisle team for top-quality products, professional advice and courteous service.

About TRIOOMPH Foundation

TRIOOMPH Foundation, its "Driving Your Success" program and the PRIX TRIOOMPH encourage public high-school students in Quebec to work toward their dreams and to succeed. As part of this initiative, schools are paired with a driver-mentors for an entire academic year. High-performance cars are used to encourage students aged 13 to 20, to work hard and persevere in their school work. For more information, go to www.trioomph.com

TRIOOMPH Foundation
Nancy Defoy
Director of Communications
[email protected]
[phone]

Pneus Bélisle/Pneus Supérieurs
Olivier St-Onge
Director, Marketing
[email protected]
[phone] ext. : 2235