Give a smile, get a smile

NEWS RELEASE

ARCH HOSPICE

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The Tim Hortons annual Smile Cookie campaign is back to bring even more smiles to communities across Canada!

Starting today for one week, Tim Hortons patrons can purchase a freshly baked chocolate chunk smile cookie for $1 at participating restaurants across the country, with one hundred percent of the proceeds being donated by Tim Hortons restaurant owners to ARCH Hospice.

Last year the campaign raised $31,500 for ARCH, helping the hospice reach its annual fundraising goal of $750,000.

The Smile Cookie campaign started in 1996 to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children's Hospital in Ontario and has grown to become a major fundraising event at Tim Hortons restaurants.

With blue eyes and a pink smile, the Smile Cookie has become an iconic symbol of the commitment of Tim Hortons guests and restaurant owners to strengthen their communities.

To celebrate being selected as the charity of choice for the second year in a row, ARCH Hospice volunteers dressed up as giant cookies at local Tim Hortons on the launch day.

Ryan DiTommaso and Ashleigh MacLeod, owner/operators of the Great Northern and Second Line locations respectively, discussed why they love to participate in the Smile Cookie campaign each year.

“We really enjoy giving back to local charities and giving back to the community. We support ARCH Hospice whole-heartedly and its mission to help local families – Smile Cookies are a way we can help support our local hospice.”

Some staff work extra hours, and even volunteered their time this year. Liz Shrigley, acting manager at the Great Northern location, came in for the launch day on her own time: “I believe in giving back, and volunteering to make Smile Cookies is one way I can help.”

Monday is the launch of the week-long campaign, and within the first 5 hours the two locations had already sold 985 Smile Cookies. “We think this year is going to be the best year for cookie sales yet!” exclaimed the Tim Hortons team.

This year we are challenging our community to purchase Smile Cookies as a random act of kindness: buy a cookie for your neighbour, your dog walker, your boss, or even a stranger.

Give a smile and you’ll get a smile! Capture your random act of kindness on camera, upload your photo to social media using the hashtag #GiveASmile and you’ll be automatically entered to win a $100 Tim Hortons gift certificate.

For full contest details, visit archhospice.ca/smilecookie. If you would like to pre-order your cookies by the dozen, please contact Katherine at [email protected] or call 705-942-1556 extension 223.

Visit www.timhortons.com/smilecookie to learn more about the charities the Smile Cookie Campaign supports across Canada or join the #SmileCookie conversation on Facebook www.Facebook.com/timhortons, Twitter @TimHortons and Instagram @TimHortons.

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