Le Défi Vélo La Coop donates $270,000 to four organizations in the Montérégie

BROMONT, QC, Aug. 26, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - La Coop fédérée, in collaboration with La Coop des Montérégiennes, has donated $270 000 to the Fondation Néz pour vivre, Centraide Richelieu-Yamaska, SEPHYR (Sclérose en plaques Haute-Yamaska?Richelieu), and Au coeur des familles agricoles. The funds were raised as part of the 5^th edition of the Défi Vélo La Coop that brought together some 200 participants and volunteers amongst which were 160 cyclists. An equal amount will be donated to each organization.

Present during the event were Isabelle Valois, Director of Recreation, Sports, Culture and Community Life of Bromont; Ghislain Gervais, President of La Coop fédérée and Gaétan Desroches, Chief Executive Officer of La Coop fédérée; Guy Labrecque and Christian Massé, respectively President and General Manager of La Coop des Montérégiennes, as well as numerous employees and partners of La Coop fédérée's network.

The 5^th edition of the Défi Vélo La Coop was made possible thanks to the participation of major partners such as Agropur, Desjardins, QSL and Québecor.

"The results are witness to the strength of this great network and the AgriBusiness, Retail and Meats Divisions of La Coop fédérée which are present across Québec and elsewhere in Canada. This energizes us to pursue our involvement in organizations that are working to make a difference in their communities," stated Ghislain Gervais, President of La Coop fédérée.

"Since the first edition in 2014, the Défi Vélo has raised $670,000 and supported 16 organizations in the following regions: Bas-Saint-Laurent, Centre-du-Québec, Chaudières-Appalaches, Mauricie and Montérégie," declared Mr. Desroches who also thanked the organizing committee led by Guy Labrecque and Christian Massé of La Coop des Montérégiennes, as well as their employees and members, for the warm welcome and support that they provided to the Défi Vélo La Coop team.

For several years now, the promotion of healthy lifestyles amongst employees and agricultural producers has been an integral part of enterprise culture for La Coop fédérée and its network.

About La Coop fédérée

Founded in 1922, La Coop fédérée is the largest agri-food enterprise in Québec, the only pan-Canadian agricultural cooperative and the 24^th largest agri-food cooperative in the world. It represents more than 120,000 members, both agricultural producers and consumers, who are grouped together in nearly 70 cooperatives spread out across several Canadian provinces. It employs 13,000 people and has sales reaching $6.3 billion. Including its affiliated cooperatives, La Coop fédérée accounts for nearly 18,000 employees and combined sales of $9.2 billion. Its activities are divided into three divisions: Olymel S.E.C. (under the Olymel, Flamingo and Lafleur banners), the AgriBusiness Division (under La Coop and Elite, Agrocentre, Agrico, and Agromart banners), and Groupe BMR inc. (under the BMR, Unimat, Agrizone and Potvin & Bouchard banners).

To find out more, visit lacoop.coop website. Twitter: twitter.com/LaCoop_federee.

SOURCE La Coop fédérée