Step forward with your future today and Start Something

Opportunities exist to get the mentorship and financial support you need: Submit your idea now

KIRKLAND, QC, Sept. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - As a generation of ambitious thinkers, research has shown that over two-thirds of young Canadians would like to start something of their own, but a lack of financial support is preventing the majority from initiating a project they are passionate about.ⁱ

Budding entrepreneurs are looking for ways to make a career out of doing something they truly love.ⁱ According to the recent Start Something with Alesse survey of Canadians 18 to 34, the majority (86%) of young adults define personal success as doing something they are passionate about, and almost three-quarters (72%) ultimately want to be their own boss as opposed to working for someone else.ⁱ  Many young Canadians say that financial support may prevent them from starting a project that they love, and almost half feel that not having guidance may be a barrier (67% and 45%, respectively): important statistics given that 92 per cent would like to make a career from doing something they love.ⁱ

Today's young Canadians have a unique set of values and an interest in doing something for themselves which is leading to larger, social change. It is their approach to entrepreneurship and interest in start-up initiatives, so vastly different than previous generations, that will result in profound effects on the economy, as well as the small-business landscape.ⁱⁱ

And this is exactly why the Start Something with Alesse contest exists.

Jesse Robson and Alyssa Reid, winners of last year's Start Something with Alesse contest, are two young Canadians that embody this entrepreneurial spirit. These ambitious young women took a different approach to personal success and created projects that truly reflect their education and personal passions.

Alyssa recognized an opportunity to help address a problem she acknowledged both in her community, and world-wide: obesity and malnutrition. With education in nutrition, she wanted to create something of her own.

"I was excited about my idea to create Planet Pounds, but was unsure of how to get it started," said Alyssa. "The mentorship and guidance I received from Start Something with Alesse is helping me get my project off the ground and bring my passion to life."

Jesse also had a clear idea of what she wanted to start, and has found the contest's support instrumental in her success story.

"Being a part of Start Something with Alesse has been an amazing opportunity and I have been able to extend my project, Centre for the Arts Exchange, further than I would have thought possible," said Jesse. "I encourage other young Canadians with a dream to submit their idea for something they want to start in order to help make their dream a reality."

It's Your Time to Start Something with Alesse: Enter Now

Now in its third year of encouraging young Canadians to pursue their ideas, Start Something with Alesse is a one-of-a-kind initiative that provides guidance and financial support for talented young men and women to make their dreams a reality. Entrants are encouraged to submit ideas that speak to their individual interests and talents: a charity initiative to a fashion line, a new band to a new company. Past submissions have showcased the true diversity and creativity of young Canadians, including projects like The Community Soccer Project, Love Floats: Random Acts of Kindness, and Reusable Evening Gowns. Any project idea can be entered!

Entries will be accepted from August 27, 2012 until October 31, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM and are judged based on the criteria listed in the official Rules and Regulations located at www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca.

The six finalists' projects will be posted online at www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca starting January 7, 2013. The two winners will be determined based on votes earned through online voting by the general public, from January 7, 2013 until February 17, 2013. Voting is limited to one vote per day.

More information and helpful tips and information from past winners can also be found at www.facebook.com/startsomethingwithalesse.

About Pfizer in Canada

Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc. 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 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 morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca.

Notes to Editor/News Director:

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No purchase necessary. The contest is open to residents of Canada 16 years of age and up. The contest closes at 11:59:59 PM on October 31, 2012. There are two cash grand prizes available and four iPad secondary prizes. 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 for cash prizes and up to $600 each for iPads.

Note to Editor

About the Start Something with Alesse Surveyⁱ

• Data collection for the survey was conducted online using Leger's OMNIWeb Canada, over three waves between July 30, and August 17, 2012.
• The survey used the Leger Marketing's online panel, LegerWeb, with a sample of 903 Canadians age 18 - 34.
• Panel members are randomly selected to receive email invitations to the individual surveys.
• A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.26%, 19 times out of 20.

Key Findings

• Young Canadians define personal success as doing something they are passionate about.
• The majority (86%) of young men and women define personal success as doing something they are passionate about.
• Young men and women that have a post-secondary education or are currently enrolled in post-secondary school responded the highest to answer that they are always coming up with new ideas for projects they could start (64%).
• The strong majority of young Canadians want the freedom to do what they want.
• Over two-thirds (72%) of respondents would like to be their own boss, as opposed to working for someone else.
• Young Canadians in Alberta felt the strongest, with 99 per cent stating they want the freedom to do what they want.
• More than 92 per cent of young Canadians would ideally like to make a career out of doing something that they love and over two-thirds of respondents want to start something of their own.
• University graduates are more self-driven than high school graduates, with 65 per cent having come up with new ideas and 45 per cent having started an initiative in the past 12 months.

References:

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ⁱ Leger Marketing. Start Something with Alesse Survey. Fielded July 30 to August 17, 2012.
ⁱⁱ Fenn, Donna (2009). Upstarts!: How GenY Entrepreneurs are Rocking the World of Business and 8 Ways You Can Profit from Their Success. McGraw Hill.

Video with caption: "Video: Start Something with Alesse is a one-of-a-kind initiative that provides guidance and financial support for talented young men and women to make their dreams a reality. ". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120912_C5648_VIDEO_EN_17699.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120912_C5648_PHOTO_EN_17699.jpg&clientName=PFIZER%20CANADA%20INC%2E&caption=Video%3A%20Start%20Something%20with%20Alesse%20is%20a%20one%2Dof%2Da%2Dkind%20initiative%20that%20provides%20guidance%20and%20financial%20support%20for%20talented%20young%20men%20and%20women%20to%20make%20their%20dreams%20a%20reality%2E%20&title=Start%20Something%20with%20Alesse%20is%20a%20one%2Dof%2Da%2Dkind%20initiative%20that%20provides%20guidance%20and%20financial%20support%20for%20talented%20young%20men%20and%20women%20to%20make%20their%20dreams%20a%20reality%2E%20&headline=Step%20forward%20with%20your%20future%20today%20and%20Start%20Something

SOURCE: PFIZER CANADA INC.

or for contest entry details, please contact 

Karley Ura
NATIONAL Public Relations
416-848-1425
[email protected]

Heather Bisset
Pfizer Canada Inc.
1-866-9PFIZER (973-4937)
[email protected]