Scouts Canada's Popcorn Fundraiser Expands With Greater Opportunity To Support The Canadian Armed Forces

Popcorn sales fund Scouting adventures and post-secondary scholarships

OTTAWA, Sept. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - Throughout October, Scouts across Canada will venture door-to-door and to community events to sell Scout Popcorn to help fund Scouting adventures such as an international service project in a developing nation, attending a jamboree in Canada or overseas, purchasing equipment for a backpacking trip through Canada's wilderness or creating an exciting science experiment.

Through Scout Popcorn, Scouts Canada proudly supports the Canadian Armed Forces by allowing Canadians to choose to purchase and donate popcorn to the men and women in uniform at military bases in Canada and around the world. This year, Scouts Canada has expanded this program to also include distribution of donated popcorn to veteran's hospitals, military training facilities and Military Family Resource Centres across Canada.

Scout Popcorn is a major donor of goods to the Canadian Armed Forces. Since 2011, Scouts Popcorn customers have purchased $824,000 of popcorn for Canada's military personnel, which has been sent to Canadian Forces bases in Canada and abroad including in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan, Ukraine and more.

"Canadians are always looking for new ways to show our appreciation for the dedicated service of our troops, both present and past," said Andrew Price, Executive Commissioner and CEO of Scouts Canada. "We welcome the opportunity to continue to provide Canadians with a vehicle to share a token of their gratitude through the gift of Scout Popcorn."

Since Scout Popcorn's inception in 1989, the fundraiser has generated more than $108 million in sales with funds raised directly supporting local Scouts. Scouts can earn scholarship money to support their post-secondary goals. Youth that sell $2,500 or more of popcorn in a single year have six per cent of their total sales for that year, plus each year following, invested into their own post-secondary scholarship account. Since the scholarship program began in 1995, 1,179 Scouts have enrolled, amassing a total of $424,000 in scholarship funds.

Selling Scout Popcorn teaches Scouts important life and business skills such as marketing, strategy development and financial responsibility, and improves self-esteem and confidence.

Scout Popcorn is supplied by Trail's End and is available in a variety of flavours and packaging from popcorn kernels and microwave popcorn to gourmet flavours like butter toffee caramel corn; cheddar cheese and jalapeno; caramel corn with almonds, cashews and pecans; white chocolatey pretzels and more. Products are available with 0g of trans fat and all products are certified Kosher.

Scout Popcorn is delivered in December before the holidays, making it the perfect present, hostess gift or treat to serve when entertaining friends and family. For the complete list of products visit: scouts.ca/popcorn.

To purchase Scout Popcorn and support a local Scouting group call 1-888-SCOUTS-NOW or visit Scouts.ca/popcorn.

About Scouts Canada
Kids in Scouts have fun adventures, discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't discover elsewhere. Along the way, they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For tens of thousands of children and youth across Canada, Scouts is the start of something great. Scouts Canada is the country's leading co-ed youth organization, offering programming for children and youth aged 5-26 in multiple languages, reflecting Canada's multicultural landscape and communities. For more information, visit Scouts.ca.

Scouts Canada is a not-for-profit organization (Charitable Registration No.10776 1694 RR0028) and a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

SOURCE Scouts Canada

Media Contacts: Andrea McLoughlin, Holmes PR, 416-628-5609, [email protected]; Justin Zimmerman, Holmes PR, 416-628-5648, [email protected]