Football Canada partners with Coach’s Cause to support Canadian food banks

Vancouver, BC/Ottawa, Ontario – Football Canada is partnering with Coach’s Cause, a grassroots fundraising movement started by university football coaches across Canada to directly assist Food Banks Canada during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Coach’s Cause directly supports Canadian food banks and food security, by contributing a minimum $10 in the name of a coach who has inspired you or provided mentorship in your life. Your donation can honour a coach from any sport who had a positive impact on your life.  Donors can then follow Coach’s Cause on social media where the stories of these difference making individuals are told.

Past and present university coaches have long taken a leadership role in the advocacy and values associated with the development of football in Canada. This was the inspiration for the founder of the effort, UBC Thunderbirds head coach Blake Nill.

“This started when I reflected on my good fortune for the mentorship I’ve received my entire life and for my association with other coaches in my profession.  Many of them the most impactful people I know,” Nill said.

“Coaches associated with university football have stepped forward in this small effort to try and ease the burdens many have recently incurred.  Hopefully others will see this as an indication that they themselves can be more active in supporting one another through the pandemic,” Nill said.

Nill networked with university coaches from across the country and with Football Canada to get the effort started. According to Football Canada president Jim Mullin, supporting the effort was a natural fit.

“When Blake started to discuss this idea with me, I thought it was an outstanding way for our Canadian football community to work together on a common goal during the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic,” Mullin said.

“It’s our hope that we connect those who have been positively affected by coaches throughout the game including junior, high school and community football. One of the most inspirational elements of this fundraising effort is that it is not just limited to football. Any coach in any sport in Canada can be honoured, helping out an essential service.” Mullin said.

Football Canada will support the charitable effort, embedding Coach’s Cause on footballcanada.com, providing on-going consultation and communications support to amplify the effort.

Join the conversation, follow Coach’s Cause on Twitter (@Coachs_Cause) or Facebook (@CoachsCause). Donors are encouraged share their stories with Coach’s Cause on social media by tagging them on social media and by using the hashtag #CoachsCause.

For more information or to donate visit CoachsCause.com/donate.

For information, Please contact:

Jim Mullin
President, Football Canada
T: 778-996-7398
E: jim@northern8.com

Blake Nill
Chair and Founder, Coach’s Cause
T: 604-868-3417
E: blake.nill@ubc.ca

About Coach’s Cause

Coach’s Cause is a group of Canadian football coaches committed to raising funds directly to Food Banks Canada. By inspiring donors to share their stories about the positive effect of positive coaching role models on their lives, Coach’s Cause highlights the contribution of coaches across our communities.

About Foodbanks Canada

Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who – last year – made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system we’ve sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $70 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/ to learn more.

About Football CanadA

Established in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body of amateur football in Canada and a proud member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). Working closely with the provincial football associations, we develop programs and resources for players, coaches, officials in the three disciplines of Tackle, Flag and Touch Football. Football Canada’s vision statement is “from playground to stadium” where players can participate in the game of football throughout a lifetime recreationally, competitively and internationally.