Media releases

HEY MONTREAL! INSPIRE AT-RISK YOUTH AND WIN THE CHANCE TO MEET GLEE STAR CORY MONTEITH AND SIR RICHARD BRANSON!

Virgin Mobile’s RE*Generation and Virgin Unite give twenty lucky volunteers the chance to get up close and personal

TORONTO (ONTARIO) May 25, 2011

Supported by Virgin Mobile Canada, the Virgin Unite promotion invites fans to create a written essay or a two minute video essay answering the question, “Who or what inspires you to volunteer and why?” The best contributions will be chosen by a panel of judges and we’ll let you know on June 7, 2011 if you have won the chance to volunteer with the Montréal charity Dans la rue, that works with street kids and at-risk youth on June 9, 2011. Volunteering has its rewards as these lucky winners will then get to personally meet Cory Monteith and Sir Richard Branson on June 10, 2011!

“As a Virgin Unite ambassador, I’m excited to have the chance to encourage other young people to get involved with their communities,” said Cory Monteith, star of the hit TV show Glee.  “I think it’s important to give back, and empower others to help and I can’t wait to meet the fans who are supporting this great program in Montreal. Dans la rue has done some fantastic and innovative work to help at-risk youth for over 20 years, and it’s the perfect match for Virgin Unite and Virgin Mobile’s efforts to help end youth homelessness in Canada.” 

Inspire to win!

To enter for the chance to volunteer and meet Cory Monteith and Sir Richard Branson, you just need to write or film an inspirational 250-word message answering the question “Who or what inspires you to volunteer and why?” The essays will be judged by a panel, including representatives from Virgin Unite, Virgin Mobile and Dans la rue. For full details on the contest, which starts today and closes on June 3, 2011, go to www.virginunite.com/coryvolunteers.

Jean Oelwang, CEO, Virgin Unite, said, “Cory is a dedicated and passionate ambassador and we’re extremely grateful that he is giving his time to help us raise awareness of the issues at-risk youth face, as well as encourage volunteering amongst his thousands of fans.”

“We’re a big bunch of gleeks, so we’re thrilled to host Cory in Montréal for what I know will be an incredible day for Virgin Mobile Members and Glee fans alike,” said Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer, Virgin Mobile Canada.  “Groundbreaking programs like this both inspire people to do some good and give them an exciting new way to do it. We’re encouraging a generation to help its own and that’s what the RE*Generation movement is all about!  Together with Virgin Unite, we’re asking Canadians to support RE*Generation on its mission to bring the number of homeless Canadian youth from 65,000 all the way down to zero.”

Virgin Mobile’s RE*Generation Movement

In early 2008, Virgin Mobile Canada and Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin group of companies, joined together to create the RE*Generation movement and empower a generation to help its own.  We're bringing together organizations that care about Canada's homeless and at-risk youth and we're connecting them with people who want to help. RE*Generation is a movement to support solutions to youth homelessness and support at-risk youth programs in Canada.  To date, over $800,000 has been raised and dispersed to leading youth serving agencies across the country. The RE*Generation movement is working with a number of Canadian charitable partners to help get kids off the streets and onto a path for a brighter future. For more information visit: virginunite.com or you can go to www.virginmobile.ca/regen to sign up and join the movement.

About Virgin Mobile Canada

Virgin Mobile Canada rewards, entertains and connects like no one else, delivering the hottest phones on the hottest HSPA network.  Virgin Mobile Members also get access to must-see events, global roaming and award-winning service. 91 percent of Members would also recommend Virgin Mobile to a friend. 

The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 15 million customers worldwide.  Virgin Mobile phones are available at more than 4,000 locations nationally including The Source, Virgin Mobile retail locations and additional retail partners. Virgin Mobile products can also be purchased online at www.virginmobile.ca or by calling 1-888-999-2321. Get personal with Virgin Mobile Canada on Facebook at facebook.com/virginmobilecan and Twitter at twitter.com/virginmobilecan.

About Virgin Unite

Virgin Unite is the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. We unite people to tackle tough social and environmental problems in an entrepreneurial way. Our aim is to help revolutionize the way businesses, government and the social sector work together – driving business as a force for good.  This is based on the belief that this is the only way we can tackle the scale and urgency of the challenges facing the world today. Virgin Unite’s overheads are covered by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, meaning that 100percent of additional donations received go direct to the frontline where they are needed most. For more information please visit www.virginunite.com.

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