RCM donates $100K from COVID-19 medal sales

Less than a month after its launch, the Royal Canadian Mint’s COVID-19 recognition medal has already netted an initial $100,000 donation towards the Breakfast Club of Canada’s 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 was handed off to the Breakfast Club on July 21.

“I am deeply touched by the response of Canadians to this project that has been a personal labour of love for the employees of the Royal Canadian Mint,” said Marie Lemay, Mint president and CEO.

The medals are billed by the Mint as a “tangible way for people to express their appreciation while raising money for an organization fighting childhood hunger.”

“As many Canadians, we had to adapt our services at Breakfast Club of Canada to ensure we reach as many children and families to support their growing needs to feed themselves,” said Daniel Germain, president and founder of the Breakfast Club of Canada.

“In 25 years, it is the first time we can continue to feed children over the summer, which is proof of how much the mission of Breakfast Club of Canada is essential. We are deeply touched by all the support we are receiving, and we thank the Canadian Royal Mint and all their employees for this recognition of the club’s work. Together, let’s lift the burden of food insecurity off the shoulders of children and families to replace them with hope and smiles.”

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 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.

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