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.

The foundation’s aim is to help young people in need, by easing their 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 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

The charitable activities of the group earned Simple Plan many distinctions, among them the prestigious Allan Waters and Allan Slaight humanitarian awards, the Personality of the Year La Presse/Radio-Canada 2012 nomination and, more recently, the YMCAs of Quebec Honorary Peace Medal.

Allan Waters Humanitarian Award

Invited to perform at The 2012 JUNO Awards, the members of Simple Plan were also present at the CARAS’ Gala (Canadian Academy of Recording, Arts and Sciences) held last March 31, 2012. They were particularly honoured to be the recipients of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for the work they have accomplished through the Simple Plan Foundation, dedicated to helping young people in need or victim of life threatening illnesses. They were all the more proud since they are the youngest artists to ever receive this award. Among the recent prize winners, we could mention Neil Young (2011), Brian Adams (2010) and Sarah McLachlan (2009). Obviously moved by this honour, they delivered a touching acceptance speech which was warmly received by the audience.

Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award

In October 2012, the Music and Broadcast Industry was announcing that Simple Plan would be the 2013 recipient of the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award during the Canadian Music Week! The prize giving ceremony will take place in Toronto, Thursday, March 21, 2013. The award is being given to the band for their ongoing work and fundraising efforts with the Simple Plan Foundation to support youth welfare. Very proud to be once again honoured for their charitable activities, the members of the band confessed that the Foundation has been one of the most rewarding experience of their lives, both personal and professional, and that such an award was an encouragement to continue the work they had started.

"Simple Plan's worldwide success is a testament to their spirit and tenacity as one of this country's best and brightest bands. These five guys from Montreal are truly inspiring with their dedication to give back to youth struggling with adulthood and youth living with illness. The creation of the Simple Plan Foundation very early in their career is a reflection of the connection they have with their audience and the world their fans live in. My father and I are delighted to present them with the Allan Slaight Humanitarian Award", commented Gary Slaight, President and CEO of Slaight Communications.

Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Simple Plan has been chosen as one of the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, as presented by His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada. The ceremony was held Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at Rideau Hall. SP is being honoured and dressed with these medals for their work with the Simple Plan Foundation. The medal is awarded to deserving Canadians to recognize and celebrate their contributions and achievements, as well as their dedication of service to fellow citizens, the community and their country.

Yahoo! Canada Award – Canadian Impact Category

In December 2012, Simple Plan won a Yahoo! Canada Award in the Canadian Impact category. The band didn't win for its music though; it took the honours for its charitable work. Since launching the Simple Plan Foundation, the band has raised over $1 million for young people in need. The band's fans got the vote out, and the final polling wasn't close, with Simple Plan taking over 56% per cent of the overall vote, beating out such luminaries as Mark Carney and tennis star Milos Raonic.

Personality of the Year La Presse/Radio-Canada 2012

Following the distinctions they have recently received, and to recognize their commitment to young people, especially through the Simple Plan Foundation, the daily newspaper La Presse and the national broadcaster (French-language station) Radio-Canada, two of the most important medias in Quebec, have nominated Simple Plan Personality of the Year 2012.

The members of the band were very proud and thankful to be the recipients of such a prestigious award among the 52 Personalities of the Week 2012. (Simple Plan was named Personality of the Week in April 9, 2012.) The names of the prize winners in each category have been announced during the gala Le meilleur de nous-mêmes, held in their hometown Montreal and broadcasted on Radio-Canada Sunday, January 13, 2013.

2014 HONORARY LAUREATE – YMCAs OF QUEBEC PEACE MEDALS

The Peace Medals Ceremony took place on November 21, 2014, on the occasion of the YMCA benefit luncheon. The medals celebrate individuals or groups, from all walks of life, who, through their actions, have helped make their community, our country or our entire world a more peaceful place. Because of their dedication to the well-being of youth through their foundation and as a mark of recognition of their engagement, the members of Simple Plan received the 2014 Honorary Peace Medal. It was another great honour that made them very proud and grateful.

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. In cooperation with Spring shoes, Simple Plan also got involved in the “bracelet” and the “wallet” campaigns to profit War Child Canada and help children victims of the war, particularly in Africa.

Right after the earthquake and the tsunami that have devastated Japan on March 11th, 2011, they decided to make a donation of $10,000 to the Red-Cross, as they also created and sold a special t-shirt #HelpJapan giving all proceeds to help the disaster victims.

In May 2012, Simple Plan was performing in front of more than 40,000 fans at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium for the MTV EXIT live event, to support the campaign against human trafficking, a crime that affects 2.5 million people world wide! It was the band first-ever performance in Vietnam and they were particularly happy to participate in this nation-wide initiative to raise awareness of this modern-day slavery and fight exploitation. The show, completed by a documentary in which Simple Plan contributed, has been broadcast on MTV Vietnam.

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.

Today, the foundation has become a part of who Simple Plan is as a band and as people. It’s because their songs enabled them to connect with their fans all over the world, who told them or wrote them so many times that their music has help them through the toughest times of their life, that they felt they had to get more involved and give back to their community. From now on, Simple Plan’s career and the foundation can’t be dissociated, showing how important is the power of music.

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.

For more information, please check out our website: www.simpleplanfoundation.com

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 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 total amount of $170,000, $70,000 more than the year before.

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 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 enthusiastic 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!

A fruitful partnership

Once again under the patronage of L. Jacques Ménard, president, Quebec, of BMO Financial Group, this friendly lunch was held at the Montreal Science Center, last November 18th, 2012, with the participation of many well-known Montreal restaurants, and other partners and sponsors, and was followed by an intimate acoustic concert. It gave the guests the opportunity to meet the members of the band, as well as the popular hosts Éric Salvail and Isabelle Racicot, to take photos and to take part in an auction and a draw.

Organized within the context of the exhibition MUSIK : from sound to emotion, it also has provided each guest with a free entry to this scientific and interactive presentation, in which Simple Plan has participated as a « guide », completed by a exclusive exhibition dedicated to the band in celebration of their 10th year anniversary.

Raising more than $ 160,000, it was definitely a successful event!

The Simple Plan Foundation donated more than $250 000 to various charities, reaching $1 million in overall donations

As they have done over the last 5 years, the Simple Plan Foundation announced at their annual benefit event the list of organizations dedicated to helping youth receiving donations totalling more than $250,000. This is the highest amount to date given by the Foundation, thus surpassing the $1,000,000 mark since 2008, a very proud moment for the band.

For the first time this year, the Foundation has chosen to feature certain causes that correspond best to their objectives by making a more substantial donation to organizations which represent them.

The three featured for 2012-2013 were:

- War Child Canada: helping victims of the crisis in Congo, a donation matched this year by the Slaight Family Foundation.

- Sainte-Justine Hospital Foundation: dedicated to the Simple Plan Multi-media room project, a special area equipped with the latest electronic equipment & new technologies, dedicated to the service of multi-specialties & transplant department, in the hopes of improving the quality of life of it’s young patients who will often spend very long periods of time hospitalized.

- Dr. Julien Foundation: for the purchase & renovation of an abandoned community center in order to consolidate the Garage à Musique project, and thus offer an accessible et safe environment to troubled youth towards the development & practice of music, as a stimulating alternative to potential destructive behavior or dropping out of school.

Representatives of these three organizations were present and spoke about the huge benefits of these generous donations.

Beyond these specific organizations, the Simple Plan Foundation continues to support various causes, for instance anti-bullying campaigns such as Jeunesse J’écoute, GRIS, and Tel-Jeunes via their Intimider c’est dépassé campaign. Additionally, Pierre Bouvier has just recently participating in the Artists against Bullying campaign, joining several of Canada’s top artists to record a new version of the Cindy Lauper classic True Colours.

Internationally, the Foundation continues to offer its support to a number of humanitarian causes, such as the fight against modern human trafficking around the world, recently playing a sold-out show in Hanoi in collaboration with MTV Vietnam for this particular cause.

A VERY SUCCESSFUL BENEFIT CONCERT EVENT

Simple Plan fans and supporters of the Simple Plan Foundation were once again out in full force to show their support this year, packing the Corona Theater in Montreal on November 12th for the Simple Plan and Friends benefit concert ; it was a chance to see their favorite band perform alongside Coeur de Pirate and Les Trois Accords in a unique intimate setting, in the hopes of raising funds & awareness for various youth oriented causes. The event was brilliantly hosted by Anne-Marie Withenshaw who guided the spirited proceedings with expertise.

Fans got a chance to meet with their idols prior to the concert, take photos & get autographs from the artists, while also having the chance to participate in an auction for various memorabilia items. The biggest surprise of the evening came during Simple Plan’s set when the band premiered a brand new song, Lucky One which will be included on the band’s upcoming EP to be launched before the end of the year.

We are very proud to announce that the Foundation has reached its goal of amassing $150,000. Very happy, but mostly very grateful for all of those who contributed in their own way to this successful benefit event: partners, donators, sponsors, collaborators and volunteers, without whom none of this would have been possible. Many thanks to all those present who, with their active participation & enthusiasm, helped make this year’s event a complete success.

Thank you for your support !

DONATIONS OVER $265,000

As is the case before every benefit event, The Simple Plan Foundation announced this year’s recipients, a list of over 20 organisations dedicated to working with & helping young people, for a total of $265,000. To this day this is the largest amount of annual donations since the Foundation began operating in December 2005, and brings the amount of total donations to $1.265 M.

In keeping with the spirit of the changes brought on last year, the Foundation strives to privilege a few select organisations who best represent its objectives with a more substantial donation. The Foundation’s goal is to help establish significant projects, clearly defined and better structured. CHU Ste-Justine’s partnership proposal perfectly fits this objective, which is why the Foundation has decided to donate a larger amount than usual, $50 000 for the L’Espace Transition project, aiming to make available art in all of its shapes and forms to the service of children and teens throughout the hospital.

Besides Ste-Jutine, the two chosen organisations are Les Centres jeunesse du Québec, for the establishment of an employment creation plan for youth, and also the Dr. Julien Foundation for the consolidation and development of their Garage à Musique program, which gives struggling youngsters access to activities to help stimulate their development.

Additionally, the Simple Plan Foundation continues on its mission to help various organisations who support worthwhile causes, such as bringing an end to intimidation & bullying. Having already contributed to both GRIS and Tel-Jeunes, this year sees the addition of Peace Grantmakers Network to the list of recipients, an organisation who is about to launch a series of symposiums across Canada to promote education about this growing affliction among our youth.

On the International front, the Foundation maintains its involvement with victims of war, natural disasters and human trafficking. A last minute decision was made this year to include a generous donation to the Canadian Red Cross for the victims of typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

A VERY SPECIAL EVENT AND A SUCCESS IN EVERY WAY

Simple Plan fans and supporters of the Simple Plan Foundation were once again out in full force to show their support this year, packing the Corona Theater in Montreal on November 24th for the Simple Plan and Friends benefit concert; it was a chance to see their favorite band perform alongside Marie-Mai in a unique intimate setting, in the hopes of raising funds & awareness for various youth oriented causes. The event was brilliantly hosted by Anne-Marie Withenshaw who guided the spirited proceedings with expertise.

Fans got a chance to meet with their idols prior to the concert, take photos & get autographs from the artists, while also having the chance to participate in an auction for various memorabilia items. The biggest surprise of the evening came during Simple Plan’s set when the band premiered a brand new song, Boom, which will be included on the band’s upcoming album to be launched at the end of springtime.

We are very proud to announce that the Foundation has largely surpassed its goal. Very happy, but mostly very grateful for all of those who contributed in their own way to thisThis successful benefit event: partners, donators, sponsors, collaborators and volunteers, without whom none of this would have been possible. Many thanks to all those present who, with their active participation & enthusiasm, helped make this year’s event a complete success.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT !

As is the case before every benefit event, the Simple Plan Foundation announced this year’s recipients, a list of around 25 organisations dedicated to working with & helping young people, for a total of $300 000. To this day this is the largest amount of annual donations since the Foundation began operating, and brings the amount of total donations to $1.5 M.

Of course, the foundation favors the causes that correspond best to its objectives. But, giving the increasing amount of new requests, difficult choices must be made. On the one hand, the foundation wishes to continue its implication in a certain number of projects, long enough to make possible their durability ; on the other hand, it is also important to allow new charities to receive a positive answer and to have the opportunity to get a support. This year, 26 charities received a donation, among them 7 were new requests.