Royal Canadian Mint proudly supports Military Family Fund

All profits from the sale of the Mint’s 2010 Poppy Remembrance Day 
Collector Card directed to charity

On September 16, 2011, the Royal Canadian Mint was proud to announce that the sales of its 2010 25-cent poppy coin collector card had generated a donation of $100,000 to the Military Families Fund (MFF), a non-profit organization created to assist military families faced with unforeseen and often immediate needs that have resulted due to conditions of service. The Mint presented its donation before MFF officials and Canadian Forces staff at the the Department of National Defence’s Ottawa, ON Headquarters (DND-HQ). The Mint had confirmed its intention to donate all profits from the sale of this product to the Military Families Fund when it launched the collector card in October 2010.

Rear-Admiral Andy Smith, Chief Military Personnel accepted the donation on behalf the Military Families Fund from Mint President and CEO Ian E. Bennett, at a ceremony hosted by the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency at DND-HQ in Ottawa, Ontario.

“Canada’s veterans and active Canadian Forces members deserve recognition for their courageous deeds and the Mint has been honoured to pay them tribute through a great variety of collector coins,“ said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. “By giving back the proceeds of its 2010 Poppy Collector Card, the Mint is pleased to extend its thanks by donating funds which will help today’s military families cope with their own sacrifices.”

“The Military Families Fund has helped over 700 families in their times of need,” said Rear-Admiral Andy Smith, Chief Military Personnel. “This generous donation is a direct reflection of the support of Canadians and Canadian society to our military members and their families.”

On October 25, 2010, the Mint, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Legion, launched the 2010 coloured 25-cent poppy circulation coin in honour of the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In conjunction with this commemorative coin, the Royal Canadian Mint issued a Remembrance Day Collector Card which included the 2010 25-cent poppy circulation coin, as well as die-cut inserts to also hold previous coloured poppy circulation coins issued in 2004 and 2008. For every collector card sold, the Mint agreed to donate all profits to the Military Families Fund.

**Left to right: Rear-Admiral Andy Smith, Chief Military Personnel accepted a $100,000 donation on behalf the Military Families Fund from Royal Canadian Mint President and CEO Ian E. Bennett, at a ceremony hosted by the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency at DND-HQ in Ottawa on September 16, 2011. The donation represents all profits generated by the sale of the Mint’s 2010 Remembrance Day Collector card.

About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada’s circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2008 certified company; the Mint is recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca.

About the Military Families Fund
The Military Families Fund was created in April 2007 by General Rick Hillier, the former Chief of Defence Staff to assist military families faced with unforeseen and often immediate needs that have resulted due to conditions of service. The fund continues to grow through the generous contributions of Canadians, corporations and other organizations, adding a new vehicle to support Canadian Forces members and their families.