Molson in the Community

Raising the Roof is Canada’s only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness. Our signature Toque Campaign brings together people from all walks of life to raise funds and awareness in support of grassroots agencies working to reduce homelessness and our national Youthworks initiative, aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness among young Canadians. The Toque Campaign is entirely volunteer driven which is why volunteers are so critically important to our success!

I am delighted to report that in Toronto alone, with the help of 1,100 Molson volunteers, as well as additional community volunteers, we raised $126,000 – over $90,000 of that directly by Molson volunteers! Fergie Devins, VP Governmental Affairs at Molson,defined the day as the “largest volunteer event in Molson history.” Raising the Roof considers it a shining example of community partnership and the gold standard for employee engagement and volunteerism among corporations.

Molson volunteers came together early morning, braving cold and rain, to sell our toques and give Torontonians a chance to participate in long-term solutions to homelessness. One person at a time, one toque at a time, you can all be very proud of the fact that you are helping us to break the cycle of youth homelessness in Canada. Thank you for making this Toque Tuesday the most successful ever in the 11 year history of the Toque Campaign!

Maureen Deery, Director of National Campaigns, Raising the Roof

As we recognize National Volunteer Week, I am so proud to be part of a corporation that celebrates its employees who have made such a difference in our communities. I have been the Donations Officer at Molson for over 17 years and have seen first hand the passion and commitment of our employees.

Molson introduced its Molson Volunteer Program (MVP) in April, 2006 and I was assigned to oversee and help execute the program for English Canada, organizing volunteer events for our employees. We used Mayor Miller’s Clean up Your City Day as the launching event with 100 employees from Toronto heading to Centennial Park, led by our President, Kevin Boyce, to beautify the park by getting rid of the garbage that accumulated over the winter months., We picked up over 100 bags of trash in one hour! The Mayor’s clean-up is now the springboard for Toronto employees to get outside, work together and clean up our grounds and prepare for the many volunteer activities that take place throughout the balance of the year.

The results of the MVP have been astounding! To date we have logged more than 6,000 volunteer hours which indicates the passion and commitment of our employees to make a difference. The MVP has provided several great team-building experiences and employees are embracing the program in true Molson fashion – working together, having fun and giving back.

I represent Molson on Volunteer Canada’s Corporate Council on Volunteering , where I work with appointees from 24 other corporations to promote volunteerism in Canada.

I am proud to work with such an enthusiastic group of employees who give so generously of their time to make a difference to the charitable sector in Canada by reaching out to those who need a helping hand. Thank you Molson volunteers — We are all Proud to play our part!

Yesterday marked the beginning of National Volunteer Week in Canada, the largest annual celebration and recognition campaign of volunteers.  From April 27th to May 3rd, organizations and individuals will thank millions of volunteers across Canada. 

Over the next week, the MolsonCommunity Blog will have some guest bloggers form organizations that Molson has volunteered with or sponsored, as well as Molson employees.

How are you celebrating national volunteer week?  Who do you want to say thanks to?  Would love to hear your stories!

For more information about National Volunteer Week, visit www.volunteer.ca