News
WHEN MUSIC SAVES LIVES
22 avril 2012
At the Juno Awards Gala in Ottawa earlier this month, Simple Plan was honoured with the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for their devotion and efforts to enable positive change with youth through music. In the latest blog instalment for the Huffington Post Quebec, Chuck writes about the Simple Plan Foundation, the impact it has had on the band and how giving back to your community doesn’t have a minimum age requirement. You don’t have to be a celebrity or a musician to help others, so be inspired and get involved in your local area!
Huffington Post Quebec
A SHOW IN HANOI TO SUPPORT MTV EXIT
18 avril 2012
Simple Plan will be hitting the stage at Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium on May 26th, to support the MTV Exit (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign, a nation-wide initiative to combat human trafficking through youth engagement, live events and television programming. Human trafficking is a crime that affects 2.5 million people worldwide - and Simple Plan are proud to be involved with such an important cause.
“Over our career, it’s always been very important for us to get involved socially and support causes that are close to our hearts. We started the Simple Plan Foundation with the goal of helping young people in need,” said Chuck Comeau. “Teaming up with MTV EXIT to raise global awareness around the issue of human trafficking is exactly what our mission is all about. Human trafficking is a horrible crime with devastating consequences for so many young people and their families. We are proud to stand together with MTV EXIT and their partners in the fight against exploitation. We can’t wait to play in Vietnam for the first time and are looking forward to informing our fans on how they can get involved and help out.”
You can join Simple Plan in the fight against human trafficking by signing up here to receive more information.
Details on how to get your free tickets to the MTV Exit event with Simple Plan and other local artists will be announced soon!
RECIPIENT OF THE JUNO’S ALLAN WATERS HUMANITARIAN AWARD, SIMPLE PLAN IS NAMED « PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK » BY LA PRESSE / RADIO-CANADA
11 avril 2012
The members of Simple Plan were present at THE 2012 JUNO AWARDS held last March 31 and April 1. They performed during the broadcast, playing with K’Naan their latest single Summer Paradise. During the weekend, the band also had the opportunity to visit The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, at his home in Ottawa. Of course, the guys couldn't pass up a chance to get a photo together.
But they were particularly honored to be the recipients of the Allan Waters Humanitarian award for the work they have accomplished through the Simple Plan Foundation, dedicated to helping young people in need or victim of life threatening illnesses. They were all the more proud since they are the youngest artists to ever receive this award. Obviously moved by this honour, they delivered a touching acceptance speech which was warmly received by the audience.
Because of this recognition and to salute their commitment to youth welfare, La Presse and Radio-Canada have named the five members of Simple Plan « Personalities of the Week ». Pierre, Chuck, jeff, Sébastien and David cetainly intend to continue their foundation’s initiatives. Since it was created, the Simple Plan Foundation has already donated $ 750 000 to different youth-focused charities in Quebec, Canada and even abroad and should reach the outstanding milestone of $1 million in donations in 2012.
It’s because they have read hundreds of letters from their fans thanking Simple Plan for helping them to go through tough times, and then felt they had to go a step beyond, that the members of the band are now doing a bit more than just write songs. Still, these songs are the starting point and the common thread of their more direct involvement, showing eloquently the awesome power of music.
JUNO / press release, March 31
La Presse / article, April 9 and Radio-Canada / interviews April 8 at RDI, Matin week-end TV morning show and April 9 at CBF-FM, C’est bien meilleur le matin radio morning show
SIMPLE PLAN HONOURED WITH ALLAN WATERS HUMANITARIAN AWARD
24 février 2012
Simple Plan has just been announced as the recipients for the 2012 Allan Waters Humanitarian Award for their work through the Simple Plan Foundation! The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is thrilled to recognize the band for their charitable, global fundraising efforts and dedication to supporting youth through several Canadian charities.
“Words cannot express how grateful we are to be the recipients of this award,” said Chuck. “To be recognized by CARAS and the JUNO Awards is a true honour for us. As a band we have been very fortunate to receive the constant support of our fans, which has allowed us to continue doing what we love for the last ten years. Because of that, we believe that it is extremely important for us to give back, and the Simple Plan Foundation is our way to do this. We are very proud of all of our Foundation’s initiatives — they have helped to define us as a band and have become a large part of who we are. There is no question that the Simple Plan Foundation will continue to grow and that we will be able to help our communities for many years to come."
The band will receive the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award on March 31st in Ottawa, Ontario at the JUNO Awards Gala.
A HOCKEY STICK TO PROFIT THE SIMPLE PLAN FOUNDATION
6 février 2012
The members of Simple Plan are proud to team up with Sher-Wood Hockey and Pro Hockey Life to help youth in need, by creating a unique hockey stick inspired by the image of the band.
Available now online and at Pro Hockey Life megastores on February 9, all proceeds from the sale of these limited edition hockey sticks will go to the Simple Plan Foundation, which has been supporting youth organizations since 2005.
A high performance and exclusive hockey stick for a good cause : get yours now !
HOSPITAL VISITS
9 janvier 2012
On December 23rd, Chuck and Sébastien visited sick children and teenagers in three Montreal Hospitals: St-Justine Hospital, Montreal Children’s Hospital and Le Phare, Enfants et Familles.
It's never easy to have to spend the holiday season in the hospital, and it's probably even harder to deal with for young kids and teenagers. It was important for Chuck and Seb to go spend a little bit of time with them, cheer them on and encourage them. Judging by all the smiles, the visit was greatly appreciated, both by the kids and by the band.
A LOVELY PICTURE FROM CONGO
10 novembre 2011
War Child Canada is one of the charities that the Simple Plan Foundation has been supporting since its beginnings. The foundation’s contribution to the « Education Revitalization » program helps War Child provide children in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the means to build a brighter future. The attached photo says it all !
THE JOINT BENEFIT CONCERT SIMPLE PLAN-OSM WAS A GREAT SUCCESS
25 septembre 2011
The members of Simple Plan and the volunteers of the foundation, and our OSM’s partners, are tremendously proud to announce that their annual benefit event, which took place September 20th, 2011, at La Maison symphonique de Montréal, was a real success.
The benefit concert surpassed its initial objective by raising more than $300 000
Simple Plan’s partnership with the OSM turned out to be an amazing event : in front of 2 000 enthousiastic fans (the show was sold out), the musicians all together put up an outstanding performance in the fantastic orchestra’s new hall, La Maison symphonique de Montréal. The conductor, Simon Leclerc, who made the arrangements, has brilliantly succeeded in mixing the pop-rock energy of the band with the symphonic sound. Sixteen songs were chosen, among the new and classical Simple Plan’s hits. Because of the complicity between the artists, the magic of music couldn’t work better.
Same as last year, the popular emcee and producer, Éric Salvail, did a real good job as the host, coordinating all the details. Besides the concert, an auction offering many attractive items and a draw were organized for the pleasure of our guests and, of course, to collect even more money. The aim of this unique evening was to raise funds to profit the Simple Plan Foundation and educational activities of the OSM. We were happy to announce that we succeeded in surpassing our objective by raising more than $300 000 !
We are very proud of the result but, above all, we are extremely grateful to all those who contributed in a way or another to make this evening truly special and unforgettable. Thank you very sincerely to all our partners, donators and sponsors, collaborators and volunteers, who generously helped us and made possible this wonderful event.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT !
List of our collaborators
List of our partners and sponsors
Donations totalling $220 000
During a press conference in the afternoon, just before the benefit concert, the Simple Plan Foundation has made donations to more than 20 different charitable organizations dedicated to helping troubled or sick youths for an amount of
$220 000. Since 2008, it’s a total of $700 000 that has been donated.
Let’s mention that, this year, the Simple Plan Foundation is supporting a few new charities, among them Dans la rue, an organization that takes care of some of the most destitute young people in our society, particularly by providing an innovative music program as a therapeutic tool.
The Simple Plan Foundation was also very happy to be able this year to team up with the CN’s Miracle Match program. Part of the 2011 CN Canadian Women’s Open, this charitable initiative is supporting pediatric care. As the Sainte-Justine UHC Foundation and The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation have been selected by the CN this year, the SPF’s donations have been matched by the CN, doubling the amount dedicated to our projects !
List of charities receiving a donation for 2011-2012
BENEFIT EVENT PROGRAM
14 septembre 2011
For those who wish to have a preview of the sequence of activities during the joint benefit concert SPF-OSM that will take place in the OSM’s brand new home, La Maison symphonique de Montréal, this brochure will allow you to have a look in advance to the unique items which will be auctioned that night.
The list of charities receiving a donation from the Simple Plan Foundation will be announced during a press conférence, the same day, September 20th, at 3 :00 pm.
It should be an exciting evening !
brochure
partners
WHY A FOUNDATION ?
7 septembre 2011
At The Gazette’s request, and speaking on behalf of all the members of Simple Plan, Pierre tells us about the deep motivations that explain the launch of their foundation. A touching testimony !
N.B.- This article has been published in The Montreal Gazette newspaper, on September 6th, 2011, p. A 17
www.montrealgazette.com