TORONTO — Tim Hortons says the sale of a doughnut bearing the colours of the Humboldt Broncos has helped raise more than $800,000 for the junior hockey team that was involved in a horrific collision earlier this month.
The company had come under fire last week after a franchisee in Nova Scotia reportedly began selling the Broncos-themed doughnuts without intending to donate the proceeds to the team.
Tim Hortons apologized for the "misunderstanding" and then launched a national fundraising campaign to support the team.
In a statement at the time, the coffee and doughnut chain said the franchisee "proactively sold this doughnut as a thoughtful gesture" and had made a personal donation to the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Club.
Sixteen people — including 10 players — were killed and another 13 people were injured after the team’s bus and a truck crashed in a rural Saskatchewan intersection.
On Friday, Tim Hortons said restaurants in every province donated $1 from each yellow and green doughnut sold — along with extra donations made by customers — to a total of $801,066.27.
The company says that makes it "highest donut fundraising initiative in Tim Hortons history."
"We are humbled by the remarkable showing of support from our restaurant owners and our guests for the Humboldt community following this unimaginable tragedy," Sami Siddiqui, Tim Hortons Canada’s president, said in a statement.
The company said all proceeds will go to the Humboldt Hockey Club and will be presented to the team Monday.
More than $15 million was also raised for those affected by the crash through an online fundraiser on GoFundMe, which will be distributed through an memorial fund.
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