TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2013 /CNW/ - Raising the Roof's annual Toque Tuesday is on February 5. Its goal: to raise funds and awareness in support of Canada's estimated 200,000-300,000 homeless adults, youth and children.i
Features of this Toque Tuesday...
On the streets...
Across Canada, from early morning to evening, volunteers from Intact Financial Corporation and 44 participating community agencies will take to the streets, shopping malls and transit hubs encouraging commuters to buy a red or black toque.
Breakfast on the go...
Toque-buying commuters in many communities — from Vancouver to Halifax - will be treated to breakfast. Whether served up on paper plates at the local market square, or handed out in brown bags at a city street corner, the morning treat says "thanks" for your support.
500+ 'youth helping youth'...
Committed to the concept of 'youth helping youth' (there are an estimated 65,000 homeless youth across Canadaii), 500+ members of Raising the Roof's National Youth Alliance to End Homelessness will mobilize to help raise awareness and support. Through local events, toque sales and assisting community agencies with their local Toque Tuesday efforts, the Alliance will make a statement of its own about the importance of getting involved in solutions.
Listen Up: hear (and see) the clever "look good and do good!" TV and radio toque promo PSAs, created for us pro bono by Leo Burnett Toronto.
Where the money goes
Past campaign sales have allowed Raising the Roof to grant more than $3.5 million to 145 local community agencies serving the homeless across the country. 80% of net toque-sale proceeds are returned to the community where the funds were raised.
We couldn't do it without them...
We thank and celebrate our 2013 National Toque Campaign partners, Intact Financial Corporation and Canadian Traffic Network for their tremendous support of the Toque Campaign and Toque Tuesday activities.
Where/how to purchase your toque
Please consult the attached national National Toque Tuesday events listing (attached pdf) for details on where to buy toques locally.
Additionally, you may contact your local participating community agency or purchase on-line at www.raisingtheroof.org
Local media interview and photo opportunities on Toque Tuesday, February 5:
Toque Tuesday events will be happening in communities across the country. For details by province and community (including local media contacts) please refer to the Toque Tuesday events (pdf document) with this release.
About Raising the Roof
Raising the Roof is a national Canadian charity focused on long-term solutions to homelessness. We fund local, grass-roots agencies working to alleviate homelessness in their communities; build awareness among Canadians about the true nature of homelessness today and educate them about how to prevent it in the future; and build partnerships by giving people, corporations and organizations the opportunity to participate in solutions.
i Some non-governmental sources estimate Canada's true homeless population, not just those living in emergency shelters, to be between 200,000 and 300,000. ("Homelessness", The Globe and Mail, June 12, 2006; National Housing and Homeless Network in Laird, op.cit., page 4)
ii As reported in Raising the Roof's report Youth Homelessness in Canada: The Road to Solutions, 2009.
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/02/04/20130204_C2688_DOC_EN_23257.pdf
SOURCE: Raising the Roof
National Media Contacts:
Susanna Smith, Smith Communications 416-888-2074; Arundel Gibson, Director National Campaigns 416-888-2267; Carolann Barr, Executive Director, Raising the Roof, 416-523-6605
Share this article