The Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation joins the Youth Project of Centraide of Greater Montreal and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation with a $500,000 donation

MONTREAL, June 8, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Centraide of Greater Montreal is pleased to announce that it has received a $500,000 donation from the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation for the Youth Project. A joint initiative of the Centraides of Quebec and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation, this project aims to help isolated and marginalized youths so that they can start the 2020-2021 school year with every chance on their side despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

This significant contribution will allow Centraide of Greater Montreal to further assist community agencies in the greater metropolitan area that help young people to foster their success.

Through the Youth Project, community organizations can develop and put forward solutions that are tailored to the needs of young people. They will be able to connect with them, give them support that is essential to their success, or provide them with Internet access or computer equipment to aid in their learning.

"We are proud to join this initiative for young people by providing them with the digital tools they need to succeed in school along with educational and psychological supports to keep them on the path to developing their full potential.  The Youth Project brings hope to these youths and their families who have been hit hard by this health and humanitarian crisis, which is yet another situation that has widened the gap of social inequities," said Marie-Josée Coutu, President of the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation.

"The current crisis has intensified the isolation and marginalization of youths made vulnerable by different types of inequality. Some may have academic problems, lack support or access to technological tools, or receive little personal or academic encouragement. We are pleased that the Marcelle and Jean Coutu Foundation has joined the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation to help agencies identify needs and give young people the required support for their academic and social development," said Lili-Anna Pere?a, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal.

Thanks to this project, close to 50 agencies in the Greater Montreal area can help nearly 11,000 young people keep up their positive momentum toward the future.

Centraide of Greater Montreal is active in the territories of Laval, Montreal and the South Shore. Before COVID-19, about 57,000 volunteers were involved with the 350 agencies that it supports. Since the start of the crisis, Centraide of Greater Montreal has helped 497 agencies meet urgent needs thanks to allocations of $8.3M so far through its COVID-19 Emergency Fund and the Youth Project. Centraide has a presence in 18 regions in Quebec and is supported by private, public and parapublic corporations and institutions as well as large trade unions. The money it raises is invested locally to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion. For more information: centraide-mtl.org.

SOURCE Centraide of Greater Montreal