Change Starts with a Simple Idea that's Waiting to be Explored

Call for Entries: Young Canadians are Encouraged to Start Something with Alesse!

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KIRKLAND, QC, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - A wise philosopher, Lao Tzu put it best in 6th century BC: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Today this sentiment rings true for young Canadian adults to take that first step and Start Something with Alesse by entering their fabulous program ideas. In its sophomore year, this Canadian initiative will provide two winners with mentoring and financial support to realize their dreams and pursue their own creativeness.

The idea is there, locked inside, and all you have to do is remove the excess stone.
~ Michelangelo
Start Something with Alesse is a one-of-a-kind initiative empowering young Canadians to articulate their personal goals and receive mentoring and financial support to "start something" unique.The contest winners will be paired with mentors who specialize in their area of interest, to guide them as they bring their projects to life.

The Start Something with Alesse contest is designed to get young Canadian adults thinking about their own personal goals and dreams, and to take them from idea to implementation.The 2010 Start Something with Alesse contest showcased a wide variety of compelling ideas surrounding charity work, wellness, fashion, community projects, animal rights, and so on. The possibilities were endless.

"Canada's youth is full of creative minds that just need the resources and support to get started in their endeavours," says John McKendry, Commercial Director, Original Brands, Established Products Business Unit. "Alesse is proud to be able to help support young Canadians to turn their vision into reality. By initiating the second Start Something with Alesse contest, we are hoping to continue to inspire this generation to follow their dreams and we are excited to see what this year's entrants have in store."

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Last year, the two winners of the Start Something with Alesse contest were selected out of hundreds of entries because of their exceptional project ideas. Sheyla Abdic, founder of Ace One Tutors, a tutoring and scholarship program, and Sedina Fiati, creator of Cyclista, a clothing line designed with cyclists in mind, will be this year's contest judges.

As a tutor for the past six years, Sheyla believes that education is a fundamental right for all Canadians, but felt that quality tutoring was offered only to those who could afford it, and those with the greatest need often went without. Seeing this gap, she created Ace One Tutors, a company designed to team up students looking for homework help with quality educators. The company is also established as a scholarship, to help subsidize the cost of tutoring for those who cannot afford it.

"The Start Something with Alesse contest was just the opportunity I was looking for. I had the idea to start my own tutoring company for a while, but wasn't entirely sure how to go about it," says Sheyla. "I think a lot of people have great ideas that are very creative and if they are passionate about their project, they have a great chance at winning!"

Sedina Fiati is a cycling enthusiast who refuses to bring two outfits with her everywhere she goes. As a result, she created Cyclista, a line of eco-friendly clothing that will be designed to be fashionable and functional for cyclists to go from the bike to their life without a wardrobe change in between.

"I entered the Start Something with Alesse contest because I live my life with the philosophy to be fearless and to always go for it. I knew I had a cool idea with Cyclista, and not only that, I knew there was a need for a clothing line for cyclists!" says Sedina. "My advice for anyone who has an idea of something they want to start is 'don't be afraid'. You are your biggest obstacle between making your dreams into your reality."

Life isn't about finding yourself; it's about creating yourself.
~ George Bernard Shaw.
To enter the Start Something with Alesse contest, visit www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca. The contest will occur in three phases including the call for entries, the voting period and the announcement of the winners. All entries will be evaluated based on the criteria for judging outlined in the official rules and regulations on the program website. Six finalists will be identified by a selection panel, including Sheyla and Sedina. Winners will then be determined based on votes earned through online voting by the general public. The two winners will be contacted by February 16, 2012. Alesse will provide each winner with a $5,000 grant to help them achieve their goals.

The deadline for entry submission is 11:59:59pm ET on Monday, October 31, 2011.

For the official contest rules and regulations along with an overview of how to enter, visit www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca.

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No purchase necessary. The contest is open to residents of Canada 16 years of age and up. The contest closes at 11:59:59pm ET on Monday, October 31, 2011. There are two grand prizes available. The odds of winning will be determined based on the number of applicants. See www.startsomethingwithalesse.ca for the official rules and regulations and entry forms. Correct answer to the mathematical skill testing question required. The approximate retail values of the prizes are $5,000 CAD each.

About Pfizer Canada Inc.
Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., the world's leading biopharmaceutical company. The company is one of the largest contributors to health research in Canada. Our diversified health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products.

Every day, Pfizer Canada employees work to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. We apply science and our global resources to improve the health and well-being of Canadians at every stage of life.

Our commitment is reflected in everything we do, from our disease awareness initiatives to our community partnerships, to our belief that it takes more than medication to be truly healthy. To learn more about Pfizer's More Than Medication philosophy and programs, visit www.morethanmedication.ca. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit www.pfizer.ca.

More Than Medication® is a registered trademark of Pfizer Canada Inc.

SOURCE PFIZER CANADA INC.

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