BGC

Together, opportunity changes everything - BGC Canada and M&M Food Market
Together, opportunity changes everything - BGC Canada and M&M Food Market

To donate to BGC Canada, click here.

Together, opportunity changes everything

M&M Food Market and BGC Canada form national partnership to help children and families thrive

A BGC member learning to cook

Two organizations working together on community engagement and support, to help address the most pressing issues affecting children and families across the country today.

We are thrilled to announce that M&M Food Market is partnering with BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) to support their work helping children and youth break down personal barriers and build skills for life-long success. The national charitable partnership will help address the most pressing issues affecting children and families across the country.

The partnership comes at a time when countless Canadians have been impacted by COVID-19 and need support more than ever. The organizations will work together on community engagement programs that will connect families with local Clubs, enabling them to access the support and services essential to relieving some of the pressures exacerbated by the pandemic.

Why M&M Food Market and BGC Canada?

Creating meaningful opportunities for Canadian children and families in their local communities

A BGC member playing baseball

Giving back to our communities across the country has been an important part of M&M Food Market’s culture since opening its first store in 1980. This partnership provides our Franchise Partners, Store Managers and Meal Advisors an unparalleled opportunity to rally behind a vital national charitable organization at a local level.

With plans to fully engage with and participate in the initiatives of the partnership with BGC Canada, all M&M Food Market staff will have a chance to collectively provide opportunity for Canadian children and youth. “Throughout our 40-year history, we’ve supported important causes that serve the communities where we live and work,” said Andy O’Brien, CEO, M&M Food Market. “Partnering with BGC Canada just makes sense as our two organizations share similar values. We’re excited to apply the full power of our entire network of stores and I’m looking forward to seeing our thousands of passionate staff, including Franchise Partners, Store Managers, Meal Advisors and head office team members, come together and make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.”

In spring 2020, the two organizations joined forces when the pandemic lockdown increased the need for community-based food programs. In response, M&M Food Market provided $125,000 in gift cards for BGC Canada to distribute to families in their communities. The success of the effort led to further discussions about how to work together to make an even bigger impact. “We’re extremely happy to partner with M&M Food Market. Like BGC Canada, they have long-established roots in hundreds of communities across Canada and they understand what children and their families need,” said Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “We have a strong Club presence and programming in many of the communities where M&M Food Market operates, which will allow us to work together to help young Canadians and their families in meaningful ways.”

Partnership launch plan 2021

Help eliminate barriers facing youth and build life-changing skills

Kid-friendly appetizer platter

The partnership is launching in several phases over the course of 2021, in order to fully engage our network of franchise partners and employees, to build excitement with our customers, and bring our partnership to life In stores. To encourage a fruitful partnership, stores will be encouraged to work with their local Clubs, as well as mobilizing M&M resources and fundraising initiatives to benefit the national BGC Canada organization.

Under the terms of the partnership, M&M Food Market and BGC Canada will oversee a series of consumer-facing events and fund-raising activities. The two groups will participate in marketing and communications efforts and special joint initiatives that encourage the elimination of barriers facing youth while building skills that can help change their communities for the better. Additionally, M&M Food Market will support Unplug to Connect, an annual BGC Canada event that highlights the unique ways people interact with one another and the importance of spending time with friends and family and of self-care.


About BGC Canada

BGC Canada’s mission: “Provide safe, supportive places where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, and develop confidence and skills for life.”

Previously named Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada, BGC Canada rebranded in early 2021 to remove the historic emphasis on gender and age in their name, in order to better reflect the fact that they open their doors to ALL kids and teens.

BGC Canada’s mission is to “provide safe, supportive places where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships, and develop confidence and skills for life.” As Canada’s largest child and youth serving charitable organization, BGC Canada removes barriers and creates opportunities for 200,000 kids and teens at 775 locations nationwide.

During out-of-school hours in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities, their trained staff and volunteers provide programs and services that help young people realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, job readiness, mental health, social development, leadership, and more.

Opportunity changes everything. To donate to BGC Canada, click here.

Follow our partnership initiatives and join our community on social media!

Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: Follow @mmfoodmarket and @bgccan

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