Since last June, when the Royal Canadian Mint issued its “recognition medal” to raise funds for the Breakfast Club of Canada’s COVID-19 emergency fund, the Crown corporation has donated $600,000.
The Mint issued the medal – covered in CCN Vol. 58 #8 (“RCM issues fundraising medal to honour COVID-19 ‘heroes’”) – on June 29. The Mint’s first donation, for $100,000, came less than a month later. Before the end of 2020, the Mint donated another $400,000 to the fund, and since then, the Crown corporation has added another $100,000, bringing the total to $600,000.
“It is touching to see how many Canadians thoughtfully gave recognition medals to those who have helped us cope throughout the pandemic,” said Mint President and CEO Marie Lemay. “Their kindness and generosity exceeded our expectations, and thanks to them, we were able to donate $600,000 to Breakfast Club of Canada’s efforts to combat food insecurity.”
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.