July 3, 2018

Club 52 returns in 2018: Nicolas Boulay continues to pay it forward

Alouettes linebacker, Nicolas Boulay, might begin the 2018 season on the sidelines because of an injury, but that does not mean that he will remain inactive, as he will continue his charitable work.

In fact, Boulay is proud to announce the return of Club 52 for a fourth season, in collaboration with the Alouettes Foundation. With this initiative, the 28 year-old athlete will invite 52 under 18 youths from different community organizations in the Greater Montreal area, to watch each home game in section P3, for free. These kids will get to live an experience that they will not soon forget.

More than 1,500 kids have had the opportunity to experience this initiative since the former Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or athlete kick-started the whole thing. Why 52 kids? Simply because it is the number that Boulay wears with the Alouettes. “After every game, whether we won or lost, I have the privilege of meeting with kids who have had a great experience at the Stadium, and it reminds me of how lucky I am to be a professional athlete, and to have the platform I have to give back to the community. Thanks to the support of our donors, hundreds more kids will be able to experience a day they will never forget,” said Boulay, who is counting on his generous donors, such as the Fondation Bon Départ, without whom this initiative would not be possible.

During every home game, the kids get VIP treatment with a reserved section, a free-meal, thanks to Subway restaurants, as well as a visit from Boulay and fellow teammates after the games. The Alouettes players take advantage of this meeting to talk with the kids and to sign autographs. During the September 30 game, which will be the Canadian Armed Forces game, Boulay took advantage of the opportunity to invite the families of Canadian soldiers to come and meet him. A couple of years ago, with other CFL players, Boulay took a trip overseas to support Canadian soldiers.