Molson in the Community

Team Molson and Team Eva’s

Donation + Fall Clean Up + Road Hockey Challenge + BBQ = community relations at its best.  Last Thursday, 15 Molson Coors Volunteers spent the afternoon volunteering at Eva’s Initiatives in Toronto – a charitable organization that works with homeless and at-risk youth to get them off the streets permanently. Eva’s operates three shelters in the Greater Toronto Area that house 122 youth each night.

The Molson Donations Fund (MDF) has been a strong supporter of Eva’s Initiatives for many years.  MDF focuses its giving to programs that encourage healthy communities through skills improvement and active lifestyles – Molson funds contribute to Eva’s Phoenix Print Shop and Foundations of Print Program (a program that readies youth for their futures by providing them with training in printing and graphics arts).

This year, the relationship between Eva’s and Molson grew with Molson becoming one of the main sponsors of incredibly successful Home For Life auction held in May. The event raised $130,500 for Eva’s!  After this successful event, Melissa Greiner from Eva’s and I kept in contact over months trying to find opportunity for Molson employees to volunteer …..and that’s how the Molson-Eva’s Hockey Challenge was born. A small idea to come tour the facility and present a donation grew and grew until we eventually had a whole afternoon of activities planned.

The hockey equipment was donated by Molson Coors and its employees through an equipment drive leading up to the event which will stay at Eva’s and (hopefully) be used over and over in preparation for the 2010 challenge!  In addition, we’d all like to send special THANKS to Play it Again Sports who so generously donated water bottles, hockey tape, mouth guards, pucks, balls and some goalie equipment.

Thanks to ALL involved…this was an afternoon to remember.

Some photos of the day below – and more pics on our flickr page.  Cheers!

First: an hour of fall clean-up activities

Then:  Let the GAMES begin. There are some serious hockey players here at Molson and their skills were put to the test against the youth and staff from Eva’s Phoenix

Team Molson!

Molson MVP of the game goes to….Kevin McNeil! (left). Presented by Melissa Greiner from Eva’s (middle) and Tim Young (Molson Coors)

  Un beau défi philanthropique pour nos équipes “Bâtir la relève” (au Québec) ou ”Build the Bench” (au Canada)

 Trois équipes de relève au Québec auront pour mission de faire une différence dans le cadre de notre partenariat pour les Jeux d’hiver 2010 à Vancouver. Ces équipes devront collaborer à ramasser 10,000$ (objectif national) pour nos dix athlètes canadiens sélectionnés, tout en mobilisant nos employés(es) à prendre part à chacun des événements organisés.

ENSEMBLE, nous leur souhaitons la meilleure des chances … chez Molson Coors, le développement de nos employés(es) et l’investissement communautaire sont des priorités!

Sur cette photo, on aperçoit Yves Rozon des Ressources humaines, Marieke Tremblay des Affaires corporatives et Geoff Molson entourés de nos équipes de relève du Québec (votre toute dévouée Monique Dépatie se chargeait de prendre la photo):

 De gauche à droite: Caroline Filiatrault, Guillaume Hamer Lavoie, Georges Barrette, Alexandre Gagnon, Mathieu Larocque et Marie-Christine Hétu

De gauche à droite:  Simon Cloutier, Jessica Lukian, Richard Lacroix, Mario Hince et Michel Gauthier

De gauche à droite:  Paul Guichard, Daphné Jobin Savard, Jean-Charles Villeneuve, Pierre Ducharme, David Reddy et Robert Héroux

 A message from Walter Neveu, a Molson Coors Employee:

“Thanks again for all the support, and letting the Molson Employees do their part in our community. As you can see, it was a great success and the funds will go a long way in helping the sick children at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The money raised allowed the hospital to get a new medical piece of equipment to nurse kids”

From left to right:

 (1st row):  Denis Perron, Benjamin Mercier, Pierre Chenvert, Alex Zarate, David Natale and Renald Leblanc

(2nd row):  Steve Lizotte, Walter Neveu (leader), Gilles Godbout, Bernard Pelegrino, Daniel Frenette and Jean Pilon

 Congratulations to the Team for Playing a huge part! 

En matinée le 22 septembre dernier, l’Université Concordia a célébré l’inauguration très attendue du nouveau pavillon ultramoderne qui abritera l’École de gestion John-Molson. Plusieurs personnalités ont assisté à la cérémonie de la coupe du ruban, dont douze membres de la famille Molson, incluant M. Éric H. Molson, président émérite de Molson Coors, et chancelier émérite de l’Université Concordia.

Le nouveau Pavillon, qui accueille près de 8,000 étudiants(es) est doté de salles de classe et de matériel pédagogique à la fin pointe de la technologie. Il est par ailleurs équipé d’une façade unique au monde, qui exploite l’énergie solaire pour produire à la fois de l’électricité et de l’air chauffé. Les 17 étages, y compris les deux du sous-sol, offrent un accès à internet sans fil.

Molson Coors Canada a directement contribué à la réalisation de ce magnifique projet, avec un don corporatif majeur de 5 M$. Une contribution qui s’ajoute à celle de la Fondation de la famille Molson qui aura versé un don substantiel de 20 M$.

 De gauche à droite sur la photo ci-dessous:

La ministre de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport du Québec, Mme Michelle Courchesne, Mme Jane Molson, épouse de M. Éric H. Molson, M. Éric H. Molson, président émérite de la Molson Coors Brewing Company et chancelier émérite de l’Université Concordia, Mme Judith Woodsworth, rectrice et vice-chancelière de l’Université ainsi que M. Peter Kruyt, président du conseil d’administration de l’Université Concordia.

Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson was at Carey House last week at the official ribbon cutting for the supportive housing project.  Established in 1976, Carey House provides adults with physical disabilities affordable and accessible housing in a group setting with 24-hour care.

A couple months ago, after a call to the community by Mayor Jackson for help with Carey House’s new project, building a Gazebo,  Rod Monkman, the Molson Coors sales rep for the Burlington area, organized a donation from Molson of $2,500 to help build the gazebo as well as a deck expansion which includes an updated wheel chair ramp.   Molson was just one of many donors that made this project a success – in true community spirit, over 40 local organizations, residents and companies stepped up and made this project happen.  Proud to play a part – cheers.

New deck/ramp

Me with Will Pugh, President, Rotary Club of Burlington – Lakeshore.  The Rotary Club provided a $9,000 donation to Carey House in association with the 09 Ribfest.