Raise a Molson Canadian and Help Tackle Local Hunger this Holiday Season

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Ontario, ON - December 9, 2011 - Molson Coors Canada and The Firkin Group of Pubs have launched their annual holiday campaign, partnering with the student-founded and youth driven charity, Meal Exchange. Throughout the month of December, Ontario pub patrons can support Meal Exchange by purchasing a Molson Canadian or Molson Canadian 67/Sublime at any of the participating Firkin Pub locations across Ontario. For every pint or bottle “raised”, The Firkin Group of Pubs and Molson Coors Canada will each donate $0.25 to Meal Exchange.

In its seventh year, this campaign has raised over $125,000 dollars which has supported local food banks and funded public education programs on food security. With 31 pubs participating this year, the fundraising goal is set at $18,000.

One in eight Ontario households lack the physical and economic means to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food. While over 395,106 turn to a food bank each month for assistance, many more sacrifice their diets in other ways in order to make ends meet.    "Meal Exchange's founding program made it easy for people to help alleviate hunger while dining on campus,” says Dave Kranenburg, Executive Director, Meal Exchange. “This campaign brings this same idea to life in the community and the money it generates will allow us to feed people today and increase their access to healthy food year-round."   Student volunteers from Meal Exchange will be visiting the participating pubs during the campaign to speak with the Firkin staff about the important work Meal Exchange does to address food insecurity.   "Meal Exchange representatives visiting our pubs is a great way to increase awareness of the campaign as well as ensure our teams understand how their hard work during a very busy season can make a difference in local communities,” says Larry Isaacs, Director of Marketing, The Firkin Group of Pubs.   Pub patrons can support the fundraising campaign Dec 1^st to Dec 31^st, 2011. To find a pub near you:  http://www.firkinpubs.com/ or http://blog.molson.com/community/.     ABOUT THE FIRKIN GROUP OF PUBS Founded in 1987 by Stanley Adelson and Ian Fisher, the Firkin Group of Pubs is North America's largest growing chain of neighbourhood pubs - a welcoming place to meet friends for a pint, some fine food and a good time. The Firkin Group of Pubs is the largest pub chain in Canada, with 31 locations in Ontario.   ABOUT MOLSON COORS CANADA Molson Coors Canada is the Canadian division of Molson Coors Brewing Company, a global brewer with operations in Canada, the U.S., U.K and Asia. The Company proudly offers some of the most popular brands in Canada with an award-winning brand portfolio which includes Molson Canadian, Coors Light, Molson Export, Molson Dry and Rickard's. Molson also partners with other leading brewers to offer such global brands as Heineken, Corona, Miller Genuine Draft, and Foster's Lager. Molson Coors Canada employs 3,000 Canadians, operates six breweries, including the boutique brewery Creemore, and invests in communities from coast-to-coast through its various charitable initiatives and sports and entertainment sponsorships. Molson Coors Canada is committed to promoting its products and events in a responsible manner.   ABOUT MEAL EXCHANGE Meal Exchange's first chapter was established at the University of Guelph in 1997. It is now a national student-founded, youth-driven, registered charity that engages, educates and mobilizes youth to work with their communities in order to alleviate hunger locally and achieve food security. Its programs have been run in over 100 communities across Canada and generated over $3 million worth of food.   MOL19487