Cantrex events raise thousands for charities

Annual golf tournaments held in Quebec, Ontario

Michael J. Knell -- Furniture Today, July 23, 2010

Cantrex President Alain Masse, left, presents a check for C$12,500 to Marc Costa, a senior manager with the Toronto-based Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada.

MONTREAL — Cantrex members, staff and suppliers have raised in excess of C$60,000 for charity at their two annual industry golf tournaments, held this month in Quebec and Ontario.

More than C$50,000 in cash and goods was donated to En Marge 12-17, a Quebec-based organization that helps runaway and street youth, by participants in the Quebec tournament, which drew 156 people from throughout the industry.

The tournament raised C$10,500 in cash during the day, but following an after-dinner presentation by En Marge executives André Archambault and Manon Harvey detailing its plans to build a new shelter, Cantrex members and suppliers pledged an additional $40,000 in goods and materials, including furniture, appliances, mattresses and floor coverings.

A few weeks later, some C$12,500 was raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada during the annual Ontario and Atlantic Canada golf tournament at the Copper Creek Golf Club in Kleinburg, Ontario. Most of the money raised came from the proceeds of a raffle, with prizes that included items such as a 54-inch flat-panel television, an induction range from Electrolux and a high-end washer and dryer from Samsung Electronics Canada.

Winning the Quebec tournament was the foursome of Martin Prescott, Jean-Marc Ahern, Marc Gilbert and David Cloutier of A.G. International.

The winning foursome for the Ontario and Atlantic Canada tournament included Scott Whitell, a member of Cantrex`s Mattress World banner; Jack Szendrey from Springwall Sleep Products; and Chris Becker and Steve Darnell, both of appliance specialist Danby.

Last year, this event, which was organized by the Cantrex office in Mississauga, Ontario, raised $10,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.