TORONTO, Canada ā With the support of 1,500 restaurant owners and guests from coast to coast to coast, Tim Hortons restaurants raised nearly $11 million during this year’s Camp Day fundraiser, supporting youth who typically attend one of the seven Tims Camps across North America throughout the summer and school year.
Despite the challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s critical fundraiser was a huge success thanks to the generosity of guests who purchased a hot or iced coffee, newly designed bracelets, or donated to online initiatives such as #CampInForCampDay. Restaurant owners also went above and beyond on Camp Day by hosting games, car washes in drive-thrus and parking lots, and even sold paintings, drawings and local crafts created by family and friends with 100% of proceeds donated to the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps.
“We want to extend a big thank you to the dedicated Tim Hortons restaurant owners and team members across North America who helped us come together as a brand during these difficult times to raise funds for the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps,” says Axel Schwan, president of Tim Hortons Canada and Americas. “We’re so proud of how Tim Hortons restaurant owners and team members have worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and their commitment to making Camp Day a success this year was inspiring.”
Tims Camps support kids between the ages of 12 to 16 ā a vulnerable and important developmental time that helps shape who they will become as adults. Through the multi-year Summer Program, youth learn skills like leadership, resilience, and responsibility. They become empowered to believe in their own potential and change their stories for the better.
“This year’s Camp Day proceeds will help ensure the Foundation is able to welcome campers back to each of the seven camps across Canada and the U.S. as soon as it is safe to do so,” says Dave Newnham, president of the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. “Together, we have made a positive and transformative impact on the lives of thousands of youth and we want to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Camp Day such an outstanding success. We are proud to continue to invest in youth in every Tim Hortons community.”
Earlier this spring, as a result of COVID-19, Tim Hortons Foundation Camps announced an all-new digital camp experience, Tims eCamp. Tims eCamp is an eight-week youth development program that kicked off the first week of July. Participating campers have been grouped into eCabins and are being supported and guided by trained eCounsellors to build social, emotional and developmental skills.
Camp Day History
In 1986, a group of Restaurant Owners in Atlantic Canada decided they wanted to have a Tim Hortons camp in their region, just like the first camp that was established in Parry Sound, Ontario. They came up with the idea to donate the proceeds of coffee sales from one day from every Atlantic Canada restaurant to fund a new camp. On May 6, 1987, the “First Annual Tim Horton Children’s Foundation Day” occurred, raising over $131,000. With some additional fundraisers and donations, the Tim Horton Children’s Camp opened in 1988 on the shores of the Northumberland Strait in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. It wasn’t until 1991 that the fundraiser went chain-wide and every Tim Hortons location from coast to coast to coast was donating coffee sales on what they referred to as “Camp Day Canada.”
About Tim HortonsĀ® Foundation Camps
Tim HortonsĀ® Foundation Camps is a non-profit charitable organization founded in 1974 helping kids to their stories for the better. A leader in youth development programming, Tims Camps support youth from low income homes between the ages of 12 to 16 ā an important developmental time that helps shape who they will become as adults. Through a multi-year, camp-based change program, youth learn skills like leadership, resilience and responsibility, which empower them to believe in their own potential and change their stories for the better. With seven camps in North America that run year-round Summer and School Programs, youth are supported to thrive when they return home, to excel in post-secondary education, to succeed at work and to contribute positively to their communities. The Foundation’s funding comes from Tim Hortons Camp Day, fundraising activities, special events, and year-round public donations collected through counter and drive-thru coin boxes, as well as other donations. More than 295,000 kids have attended a Foundation camp at no cost to them or their families. For more information about Tim HortonsĀ® Foundation Camps, please visit timscamps.com.
