Smile Cookie Campaign supports Reading College

Just when we thought our smiles couldn’t get any bigger - they did! And we have the Red Deer community to thank for their support.

It may have taken us a while to count ALL the money raised from the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign this past spring...and it's very impressive…..in fact, it’s an all time record, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

During the graduation ceremonies for Reading College, we celebrated the presentation of the cheque from the 2023 Smile Cookie campaign, which took place in May.

Over the week-long campaign, Red Deerians ate a lot of cookies - $60,735 worth in fact! These funds have been raised to help struggling readers become readers of potential through Reading College, a project of the Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools.

Reading College, held each year in the month of July, provides students who already have reading gaps, an amazing summer experience that will not only develop their reading skills but more importantly, their interest and motivation in reading. Students leave the program with increased reading and writing abilities, and a solid foundation for future success in school and life. In its 12th year, more than 600 students have graduated from Reading College.

“The Smile Cookie Campaign is a great opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of literacy, it really does create life chances for students. Reading College is made possible through great support from our community and Tim Hortons - we could not operate it without this support,” said Kristine Plastow, Foundation Board Chair. “We are so grateful to the community for buying Smile Cookies and supporting this fantastic program.”

From May 1-7, the $1.50 treat helped community programs across Canada in the cities where they are sold. In Red Deer, Tim Hortons owners generously donated proceeds to the Foundation’s Reading College program, with 10% of funds raised supporting the Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, of which close to 150 students from Red Deer Public Schools attended this past spring.

“On behalf of all restaurant owners and team members in Red Deer, I would like to thank our loyal guests for their generosity and support of the Smile Cookie campaign,” said Tanya Doucette, Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner in Red Deer. “Tim Hortons is thrilled to support The Foundation for Red Deer Public Schools and Reading College which helps young readers develop the literacy skills they need to succeed.”