About the foundation
It was in Montreal, on December 2005, at Simple Plan’s first Bell Center show, when the band announced the creation of the Simple Plan Foundation.
Why a foundation?
The foundation’s aim is to help young people in need, by easing their often difficult passage to adulthood and by supporting the victims of life threatening illnesses. The foundation also believes that the practice of music can be a privileged tool to help them find a passion in life, keeping them away from street gangs and criminality, and preventing school dropping.
Since they themselves are young, the band’s members are particularly aware of the problems faced by teenagers. They are even more familiar with these problems as they are in constant touch with their fan base. “We started the Simple Plan Foundation as a way to try to give something back to our community and make a difference. After reading thousands of letters and e-mails from our fans and talking to them at our shows, we know very well how tough life can be for kids growing up. It breaks our hearts to see so many young people fighting to survive while feeling depressed and lost. We want our Foundation to help them find their way and show them that there's always a light at the end of the tunnel, that things can get better.”
Being in this band, we also got to meet lots of kids and families dealing with illness. There's nothing more unfair and absurd than seeing a young life ruined by cancer or any other sickness. This subject is extremely close to our hearts because we've had people in our own families that were hit by cancer and got to witness first-hand how devastating this can be and what toll it can have on our loved ones. The foundation will be there to try and help out families who are going through such tragic events.
We’ve had the great opportunity of touring the world and meeting all sorts of kids from places far and wide. We’ve also had to see the harsh realities of children living in war torn areas around the world: children who are living in poverty, who are forced into armies, and are suffering from the after effects of war. We believe every child deserves a happy childhood. We hope our foundation will be a global foundation that will give back to the world community of children and help them deal with their own personal daily struggles. If we can bring a few smiles to these children, we know that would make a world of difference”, declared the group members.
The objectives
The Simple Plan Foundation plans to help needy young people by contributing in the following fields:
- Help the various groups and organisations working with young people facing typical teenage problems: drugs, depression, bullying, school dropping out, suicide, poverty, and those affected by war
- Support various social and medical organizations dedicated to helping ill and handicapped children and youths
- Promote musical training in schools as a way of helping young people develop a passion and find a purpose in life
A structured undertaking
For the members of Simple Plan, the launching of their foundation answered the need for a better structured social implication; the final outcome is a series of undertakings throughout the years:
- They participated in the effort to help the South East Asia tsunami victims;
- They contributed to MADD (Mothers Against Drinking and Driving) and to RAAD (The Entertainment Industry’s Voice for Road Safety), as well as to Educ-Alcohol, in an important campaign against drinking and driving;
- They performed at Live 8, a planetary event dedicated to heighten public awareness of the problems associated with world poverty;
- They continuously responded to requests issued by the Make-a-Wish and Children’s Wish Foundations, two organizations dedicated to bringing hope and joy to terminally ill children and teens;
- With Sennheiser, the band brought the concert experience to hearing impaired children across Canada as well as some countries in Europe. With the help of a cochlear implant, children were able to hear sounds from a Simple Plan concert for the first time.
While touring around the world, Simple Plan continued to participate in various projects in an informal manner. They visited teens and children in hospitals or in special schools and financially helped charitable organizations such as “Le Garde-Manger pour tous”, which is dedicated to promoting healthy feeding habits for the underprivileged. They contributed an autographed guitar to an auction held by the Jean-Béliveau Foundation and to another one held by the Kovalev and Friends for Kids Foundation. They also supported the deaf children of the École oraliste, in Quebec, by contributing to the Fondation Sourdine benefit event.
Following their foundation’s involvement in Leucan, they have been taking part in the launch festivities of Leucan’s 30th anniversary, by offering a big open-air show at Ski Bromont on March 14th 2009, within the context of “Défi Ski 12 heures Leucan”. The show gathered more than 7 000 fans and contributed to raise money to profit Leucan, which mission is to offer support and accompaniment toward children with cancer and their families. More recently, the group joined in the Canadian effort of sending relief to Haiti by being part of two big telethons: “Ensemble pour Haïti” in Quebec, as well as “Canada for Haiti”. The Simple Plan Foundation took the opportunity to do its small part and donated $10 000 to CECI (Centre for International studies and Cooperation). Pierre also contributed to record the song “Wavin’ Flag”, by the hip-hop artist K’naan, which proceeds will profit Haiti.
How does the Simple Plan Foundation work?
It goes without saying that the Simple Plan Foundation is primarily constituted by the band members: Pierre Bouvier, vocals, Chuck Comeau, drums, David Desrosiers, bass, Sébastien Lefebvre and Jeff Stinco, guitars. However, since their professional engagements require them to travel frequently, they have set up a managing committee to look after the day to day activities and report to them regularly. Being kept well informed allows them to assume all the important decisions. The members of the Board of directors and the collaborators are all volunteers; so, the donations are entirely devoted to the charities supported by the foundation.
Like any foundation, the Simple Plan Foundation solicits donations from individuals, corporations and organizations who share the same values. Spontaneous donations, particularly via the Web site, are also welcome. It’s now easier than ever, since the foundation has registered with “Canada Helps”, witch collects online donations for Canadian charities.
However, solicitation is not the only way to collect funds. Simple Plan regularly negotiates agreements with the various venues where they perform, whereby a percentage of the profits resulting from the sale of merchandise is automatically directed to the foundation at each performance. Simple Plan also negotiated an agreement with the Bell Center, where 0.50 of each ticket sold for their September 13th, 2008, Montreal show, as well as a portion of tickets sales of the band’s following Australian and Mexican tours, went directly to the foundation. The band hopes to conclude similar agreements in the future, with as many producers as possible, to ensure consistent revenues for the charities that the foundation supports. Constantly developing progressive new ways to raise funds for their foundation, the members of Simple Plan have also recently concluded an agreement with Apple, Lava/Atlantic and Warner/Chappell Music stating that part of the global proceeds from each download of the single “Save You” will be donated to the foundation to fight cancer.
The organization of benefit events is another interesting means of financing: cocktails, conferences, auctions, shows, etc.
A first successful fundraising
The Simple Plan Foundation has made its first donations during a press conference that took place in Montreal, June 19th, 2008, in the presence of Mr L. Jacques Ménard, president of BMO Financial Group, Quebec, and chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns, and in front of representatives of the selected charities. A total of $100 000 was distributed among several charitable organizations the group hold in high esteem and which share the foundation’s objectives. For example: War Child Canada, Kids Help Phone, Leucan, Fondation Portage, Fondation Les Auberges du Coeur, The Lighthouse, children and Families, Montreal Children Hospital, etc.
Also announced during the press conference was the launch of the Simple Plan Foundation’s new 2008-2009 fundraising campaign, with the support of Mr L.-Jacques Ménard, who also accepted to serve as the campaign’s honorary president. A first fundraising event has taken place Sunday, August 17th, 2008, at 11:00 am, at Mel’s Cité du Cinéma. Festivities have begun with brunch, hosted by Virginia Coossa, and a double auction, both live and silent. Afterwards, Simple Plan has performed an acoustic concert.
The event brought together over 600 people, among them many high-profile personalities, and raised more than $125 000, thanks to everyone who took part in this activity, especially their sponsors, who have provided services, merchandise and various prizes, and their generous donators and main partners, for their precious and unfailing support.
On December 20th, 2008, with the collaboration of the Remparts de Québec, the members of Simple Plan have also taken part in a friendly hockey game with the Remparts and NHL old timers, including Patrick Roy, and played, with the Quatuor Alcan, an acoustic set after the match in front of more than 10 000 spectators. The event raised over $125 000 for four charities, among them the Simple Plan Foundation.
The Metropolis 2009 benefit show
The Simple Plan Foundation held its main benefit event of its second campaign on Thursday, September 24th, 2009, at 7:30 pm, at the Metropolis, 59 Sainte-Catherine Street East, in Montreal. The evening started with a “Wine and Desserts” cocktail and a double auction, both live and silent. It offered guests the opportunity to meet the band in more intimate surroundings than a large arena. Afterwards, Simple Plan has performed a concert.
Finally, during a press conference held earlier the same day, the Simple Plan Foundation took the opportunity to announce the names of the charitable organizations who have received contributions for 2009-2010, for a totalamount of $170 000, $70 000 more than the year before.
The benefit lunch at the Club sportif MAA
The Simple Plan Foundation has held its third fundraising campaign with a “Taste of Montreal" lunch, Sunday, November 14th, 2010, at noon, at Club sportif MAA (2070 Peel Street., Montreal). The event was a great success, giving guests the chance to sample delicious food from five of the best restaurants in Montreal (Buonanotte, Café Vasco da Gama, Le Muscadin, Méchant Bœuf, Vauvert) and, also, offering the unique privilege to get an exclusive preview of Simple Plan’s 4th album, months before its release. The very popular TV personality and producer, Éric Salvail, did a stellar good job as the host.
The lunch surpassed its initial objective, by raising $ 150 000. The members of the band and the foundation are very happy and proud of the result, but above all, they are extremely grateful to all those who contributed in one way or another, and among others the Club sportif MAA who welcomed us so graciously.
During a press conference just before the benefit lunch, the Simple Plan Foundation announced its donations to different charitable organizations dedicated to helping troubled youths in the amount of $186 000.
The 2011-2012 fundraising campaign:
The joint benefit concert SP-OSM was a great success
The members of Simple Plan and the volunteers of the foundation were tremendously proud to team up with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM) for their annual benefit event, which took place September 20th, 2011, at La Maison symphonique de Montréal. Presented Under the honorary patronage of Mr L Jacques Ménard, président, Quebec, of BMO Financial Group, the concert was a real success.
The benefit concert surpassed its initial objective by raising more than $300 000
Simple Plan’s partnership with the OSM turned out to be an amazing event : in front of 2 000 enthousiastic fans (the show was sold out), the musicians all together put up an outstanding performance in the fantastic orchestra’s new hall, La Maison symphonique de Montréal. The conductor, Simon Leclerc, who made the arrangements, has brilliantly succeeded in mixing the pop-rock energy of the band with the symphonic sound. Sixteen songs were chosen, among the new and classical Simple Plan’s hits. Because of the complicity between the artists, the magic of music couldn’t work better.
Same as last year, the popular emcee and producer, Éric Salvail, did a real good job as the host, coordinating all the details. Besides the concert, an auction offering many attractive items and a draw were organized for the pleasure of our guests and, of course, to collect even more money. The aim of this unique evening was to raise funds to profit the Simple Plan Foundation and educational activities of the OSM. We were happy to announce that we succeeded in surpassing our objective by raising more than $300 000 !
Donations totalling $220 000
During a press conference in the afternoon, just before the benefit concert, the Simple Plan Foundation has made donations to more than 20 different charitable organizations dedicated to helping troubled or sick youths for an amount of $220 000. Since 2008, it’s a total of $700 000 that has been donated.
Let’s mention that, this year, the Simple Plan Foundation is supporting a few new charities, among them Dans la rue, an organization that takes care of some of the most destitute young people in our society, particularly by providing an innovative music program as a therapeutic tool.
The Simple Plan Foundation was also very happy to be able this year to team up with the CN’s Miracle Match program. Part of the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open, this charitable initiative is supporting pediatric care. As the Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation and The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation have been selected by the CN this year, the SPF’s donations have been matched by the CN, doubling the amount dedicated to our projects !
List of charities receiving a donation for 2011-2012
A big thank you to all our partners!
We are very proud of the result but, above all, we are extremely grateful to all those who contributed in a way or another to make this evening truly special and unforgettable. Thank you very sincerely to all the fans present and to all our partners, donators and sponsors, collaborators and volunteers, particularly to our 3 co-presentors, BMO, RBC and the Industrielle Alliance, who generously helped us and made possible this wonderful event.
List of our collaborators
List of partners and sponsors
Make a donation
The members of Simple Plan and the volunteers of the foundation hope they can count again on the support of all their partners, donators and sponsors, so they can continue to help young people in need. They warmly thank everyone who collaborates to their mission in any way, for the trust they have always showed them. They invite all their fans and friends to keep supporting their cause.
- Online : If you want to pay by credit card, you can use anytime and anywhere in the world the online donation site CanadaHelps.org, available on the foundation’s Web site
- Cheque : You can also send a cheque at the order of the Simple Plan Foundation, at the following postal address: Simple Plan Foundation, 800 Place-Victoria, Suite 4500, P.B. 391, Montreal, QC, H4Z 1J2
- Email : You can contact us anytime at info@simpleplanfoundation.com
N.B.- Please send us your name and address, if you wish to receive a tax receipt.