McDonald’s Canada and the Toronto Raptors partner to launch new The Power of 3’s initiative to help provide youth equitable access to sports

Today, McDonald’s Canada, the Toronto Raptors and MLSE Foundation are proud to announce a new initiative coined “The Power of 3’s” to help raise funds for MLSE Foundation’s Change the Game initiative, which is dedicated to addressing the systemic barriers preventing youth from reaching and recognizing their potential through sport. Throughout the regular season, every 3-pointer made by the Raptors will result in more than just points – a donation of $133 will be made to Change the Game, with the goal of raising $200,000 by the end of the 2022-23 season.

“McDonald’s Canada’s purpose is to feed and foster our communities across Canada – this means supporting the communities we touch whether it’s our farmers, our crew or youth in our communities. Therefore, we are thrilled to partner with the Raptors to help provide young people across Ontario equal opportunities on and off the court,” said Chuck Coolen, Eastern Canada Marketing Lead, McDonald’s Canada. “Working with MLSE Foundation through the Change the Game program allows us to make an impact with youth communities across Ontario through sports programming and community funding to help today’s youth reach their potential.”

This year’s donation will namely help kids move from the sidelines and onto the courts, making play more equitable for BIPOC youth, as well as contribute to new courts and facilities in communities across the province.

Recognizing sport’s ability to change lives, MLSE Foundation’s Change the Game campaign launched in February 2021 with the aim to raise and commit an investment of $30 million to help eliminate barriers facing youth, giving them more equitable opportunities to recognize and reach their potential. The Change the Game program enables MLSE to build equity through proven community investment streams, allowing increased support of community partners, providing greater access to free sport programs, empowering community building and creating opportunities for leadership focused on equity, diversity and inclusion.

 “Through The Power of 3’s initiative, we look forward to celebrating not only the points made in the game, but also each donation’s impact off the court,” said Tanya Mruck, Vice President, Community Engagement & Social Impact, MLSE. “We are grateful to our partner McDonald’s Canada for recognizing the need in our communities and joining us as we continue to work to level the playing field for youth facing barriers.”

In addition to The Power of 3’s, the fan-favourite Beyond the Arch® program is back at participating McDonald’s restaurants in Ontario. Guests who download and register the McDonald’s app can enjoy a free medium fries with a minimum purchase of $1 before taxes from 11 a.m. – 4 a.m. the day after the Raptors score twelve or more 3-pointers in a game.

About McDonald’s Canada
In 1967, Canadians welcomed the first McDonald’s restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving close to three million guests every day. In both franchised and corporate-owned restaurants, nearly 100,000 people are employed from coast-to-coast-to-coast, and more than 90 per cent of McDonald’s 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees. Of the almost $1 billion spent on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald’s Canada, visit mcdonalds.ca.