As part of the 20-year collaboration between the Fondation Aléo and Cascades, and in the presence of Mario Plourde, President and CEO of the Quebec multinational, a total of $100,000 in scholarships and services was awarded to 24 Quebec student-athletes at the Auberge Saint-Gabriel in Montreal. Among the recipients was swimmer Ashlyn Massey, 18, from Saint-Lazare. 

The Lazarois student at Northern Pre-University received a $4,000 bursary. This is the second Cascades x Fondation Aléo bursary for the young woman. 

The program has been a resounding success since its inception in 2005. As a first-rate partner of the Aléo Foundation, Cascades has chosen to be a major team player for hundreds of
student-athletes over the past two decades. In doing so, the company has demonstrated its belief, as well as that of the Fondation Aléo, in the human potential of local athletes.

"Twenty years of collaboration with Cascades, with a common goal and shared values, is an immense privilege for the Aléo Foundation. It is with great gratitude that we celebrate these two decades of partnership, which have enabled us to make real and beautiful differences in the lives of student-athletes. For a foundation, great partners are important. A great, loyal and faithful partner like Cascades, that's what it's all about. Thank you," said Patricia Demers, Executive Director of the Fondation Aléo. 

In addition to the Fournels, a number of past recipients of Cascades scholarships were on hand to celebrate this 20 th anniversary. These included Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau, now a financier and member of the Aléo Foundation Board of Directors, as well as Olympians Jean-Philippe Le Guellec, Catrine Lavallée and many others.

Two other Cascades scholarship recipients also made a significant gesture. Alexanne and Marc-André Gagnon, two freestyle skiers, supported by their parents, presented their first bursary as part of the Donnez au suivant program. The Gagnon family presented a $2,000 bursary to Vicky Roblain, also a freestyle mogul skier. The bursary was entirely financed by the Gagnon donors, and comes with lifetime services from the Fondation Aléo.

Like the Gagnons, another Cascades bursary recipient, Christelle Doyon, has also personally participated in two Fondation Aléo programs in recent months. In February, she was a donor for Accès Nouvelle Génération, and at the end of May, it was her turn to present a Donnez au suivant bursary at the Fondation Aléo's spring cocktail party.

"Cascades sincerely believes in the exceptional role models that student-athletes are in our society. That's why it's only natural for us to support them financially, but also to emphasize how much we believe in their potential, not only athletically, but also academically. Cascades is a company that relies heavily on its team, and we are privileged to be able to say that our scholarship recipients are part of that team. They inspire us, and in return, we want to help them realize their full potential," concludes Mario Plourde, President and CEO of Cascades.