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Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign achieves record-breaking total 

June 4, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Tim Hortons has announced that a record-breaking $23.3 million was raised across the country for local charities and community groups.

This year was the 30th anniversary of the Smile Cookie campaign.

“Tim’s restaurant owners are proud members of the communities where they live and work, and for decades their passion for giving back has made the Smile Cookie campaign what it is today,” says Axel Schwan, President of Tim Hortons. “When the first Smile Cookie was sold in 1996, no one could have imagined we’d one day be celebrating more than $174 million raised in the program’s history. That’s a testament to Tim’s restaurant owners, team members, volunteers, and guests who have committed to making a difference in their communities year after year. Thank you for your incredible generosity.”

The annual Smile Cookie campaign was created in 1996 by Maureen Sauve and other Tim Hortons restaurant owners in Hamilton.

Maureen’s inspiration for the original local fundraiser came from an initiative to raise funds for a hospital ward treating her daughter. Today, that inspiration has transformed into a nationally recognized cornerstone of Tim Hortons’ commitment to giving back, with 100 per cent of pre-tax sales donated to local causes.

In the Alliston area, local restaurant owners John and Meagen Lewandowski and Amit & Rachana Seth continued their tradition of incredible impact, raising a combined $50,476.42 during the 2026 campaign. On May 27, these funds were presented to their local partners, with the Matthews House Hospice Foundation and the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation each receiving $25,238.21.

In Tottenham, Tim Hortons restaurant owner Jerry Lawlor and his team raised $31,094 in support of Help the Kids Play.

The Beeton Tim Hortons, owned by David Macrae, raised $5,725.99 in support of the Our Town Food Bank in Tottenham. 

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