The Royal Canadian Mint has donated $400,000 – earnings from its recognition medal program – to the Breakfast Club of Canada COVID-19 emergency fund.
The medal, which was covered in CCN Vol. 58 #8 (“RCM issues fundraising medal to honour COVID-19 ‘heroes’”), has been available since June 29. All proceeds from the sale of these medals are being donated to the COVID-19 emergency fund, which supports children and families facing food insecurity due to the pandemic. The first donation – for $100,000 – was handed off to the Breakfast Club on July 21. Since then, tens of thousands of Canadians have bought the medal “to express gratitude to an essential worker or someone special who made a difference throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to a statement issued by the Mint this month.
“This special project exceeded our expectations in every way—from the generosity of Canadians, to the pride felt by each employee who donated their personal time and expertise to this fundraising effort,” said Marie Lemay, Mint president and CEO. “We are gratified to have helped raise $400,000 for children and families living with food insecurity.”
Daniel Germain, president and founder of the Breakfast Club of Canada, added: “As 2020 draws to a close, we are taking the time and opportunity to reflect and appreciate our blessings even more. The Club’s work to stop food insecurity has never been more important, but neither has the essential support and trust of our partners. We are so lucky to have been supported by the Canadian Royal Mint. We thank them for the medal they generously created in honour of Canadian essential workers, and for donating the benefits from that medal to the Club. Your support and that of all Canadians who bought the medal is positively impacting the lives of thousands of children.”
Struck in nickel-plated steel, the magnetic medal is wearable, and either side can be displayed.
WEARABLE MEDAL
The wearable recognition medal, struck in nickel-plated steel, retails for $9.95 and includes a magnet so it can be worn – on either side – by its recipient.
“The fact that we are being seen for the work that we do, especially in a time during a pandemic when more is being asked of us, and that the nation is willing to recognize the work that we’re doing, is just so humbling,” said Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, an intensive care unit and palliative care physician at the Ottawa Hospital and Monfort Hospital in the nation’s capital.
“It’s empowering to know that the nation’s behind you just gives us more inspiration, more incentive, more juice to really step up and do what we need to do for our patients.”
Available “while supplies last,” the medal can still be ordered directly from the Mint at mint.ca or over the phone at 1-800-267-1871 in Canada and 1-800-268-6468 in the United States. It is also available at the Mint’s newly re-opened Winnipeg boutique plus participating Canada Post locations as well as TD Canada Trust.
To read CCN’s first story on the COVID-19 recognition medal, click here.