Eidos-Montréal, Square Enix Montréal and Eidos-Sherbrooke, the three Square Enix video game studios in Montreal and Sherbrooke, today announce a donation of more than $850,000 in support of the community, $500,000 of which will be donated directly to the Food Banks of Quebec. Several other associations in the greater Montreal and Sherbrooke region working in the areas of food insecurity, poverty, student retention, and homelessness will also benefit from the studios’ support. Square Enix’s Canadian teams, representing more than 700 employees, jumped at the chance to give back to the community.
“Since 2007, the province of Quebec, the city of Montreal and now Sherbrooke have enabled us to grow stably and sustainably,” said David Anfossi, head of the Eidos-Montréal studio. “In these difficult times, we must support and give back to our community, which has allowed us to thrive and become what we are today. ”
This donation was made possible thanks to the Stay Home & Play campaign launched by Square Enix, including its studios Eidos-Montréal and Square Enix Montréal, from March to May 2020. Sales of a game bundle including titles from the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex series, as well as in-app purchases in the Lara Croft GO, Hitman GO, Hitman Sniper and Deus Ex GO mobile games, raised more than US $2.4 million for charities. These promotions were deployed in record time at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to collect donations and support the most vulnerable
“The exceptional circumstances that hit the world caused a shock wave in our communities, especially amongst already vulnerable populations such as those experiencing poverty and social exclusion,” added Patrick Naud, Studio Head of Square Enix Montréal. ”We realize how fortunate we are to pursue our operations despite the stay-at-home orders of the last few months. It was a given that we had to do our part to help those who need it most in the community where we live and work.”
“The Food Banks of Quebec network would like to sincerely thank Eidos-Montréal, Square Enix Montréal and Eidos-Sherbrooke for this generous donation,” stated Julie Marchand, Executive Director of the Food Banks of Quebec. “This support will allow us to continue our efforts to fight food insecurity in all regions of Quebec! ”
Thanks to this donation, the Food Banks of Quebec, Centraide of Greater Montreal, the Group of Collective Kitchens of Quebec, Dans la Rue, l’Auberge du Coeur, L’Arrêt Source, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montreal, Mission Saint Michael, La Rue des Femmes as well as Moisson Estrie and Centraide Estrie will be able to intensify their efforts to defend and support those in need. Eidos-Montréal, Eidos-Sherbrooke, and Square Enix Montréal are committed to assisting non-profit organizations, associations, and foundations offering help to the most disadvantaged in Montreal and the surrounding region. Poverty and education are at the heart of the studios’ philanthropic orientations, which have enabled the creation of long-lasting networks in the communities.
