On Wednesday, June 1, a Tim Hortons coffee purchase will help change thousands of lives. One hundred percent of coffee sales at participating Restaurants on Tim Hortons Camp Day will be donated to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation (THCF) and help provide more than 19,000 kids from low-income families across North America with an experience that builds essential life skills and makes their futures brighter.
“Camp Day makes a positive impact on the lives and futures of thousands of kids from communities across North America every year, and we couldn’t be more proud to continue supporting such an important initiative,” says Felipe Athayde, president, Tim Hortons US. “We’re grateful to our guests and restaurant owners who help give kids the experience of a lifetime and the opportunity to develop skills that will support them to become more responsible, caring, and motivated individuals.”
Last year alone, $12.4 million was raised in Canada and the United States, allowing close to 18,000 kids from low-income families to spend a life-changing session at one of the seven THCF camps. With the funds raised on Camp Day, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owners sponsor kids directly from their local communities to attend camp. They work closely with local youth organizations and schools to identify kids who would benefit most from the experience.
“We help kids unlock their hidden strengths, and develop critical life skills that will support them in finding their own success and thrive as contributing members of their communities,” says Dave Newnham, president and executive director, Tim Horton Children’s Foundation. “Our camps aren’t just a fun visit away from home, these intentional experiences can be the catalyst to change their outlook on life and gain greater confidence about their future.”
According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, more than 16 million children in the United States live in homes below the federal poverty rate. The THCF strives to address the cultural roots of poverty; the idea that individuals who are economically disadvantaged often develop a set of institutions, values, norms and behaviors, which perpetuate rather than counter poverty. Camp programs are designed to provide children and youth with opportunities to develop skills and values that help set them on a different path in life.
“My experience with the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation taught me the importance of working together as a team and asking for help when I need it,” says Debra Turnboe, Youth Leadership Program alumni from the Detroit, Michigan, area. “I will always remember the wise words of one of my counselors during my second year in the program, who said that no matter how hard your situation might be, it won’t last forever and you can get through it.”
