Every July, MusiCounts highlights our donors and partners that support our mission to make music education accessible across Canada. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to those that help make MusiCounts what it is today.

Meet Amanda Simpson — the Convenience Retail Brand Manager of Waypoint Convenience.

What part of MusiCounts’ mission resonates with you (and/or Waypoint) the most?

At Waypoint, we’re deeply connected to the communities we serve, many of which are in small towns and rural areas where access to arts programming can be limited. What resonates most about MusiCounts’ mission is its focus on equity in music education, ensuring that all kids, regardless of where they live or their background, have the opportunity to explore music through their schools. Through our partnership with MusiCounts we’ve learned that music is more than just a class, it builds confidence, inspires creativity, and gives kids a voice. That aligns so closely with our brand values and our desire to support the next generation in meaningful, lasting ways.

Tell me about an event and activation you have done to raise money and awareness for MusiCounts. What was the experience like?

This past spring, we officially launched our Waypoint Cares program across our store network with MusiCounts as our official partner. As part of the campaign, we added a $1 donation prompt at checkout across hundreds of locations and encouraged customers to support music education during their everyday visits. We also backed it with in-store materials, digital content, and social media storytelling to help raise awareness.

One of the most memorable moments for our team was visiting Ford City Public School in Windsor, ON, one of the schools supported through MusiCounts’ Band Aid Program. Seeing the students learning, collaborating, and having fun through music made a lasting impression on us. It brought the campaign to life and reminded us just how important, and real, the impact is.

Do you have any words of encouragement for those who are looking to fundraise with MusiCounts? Why should they partner with MusiCounts?

Absolutely do it! Partnering with MusiCounts is not only easy, it’s incredibly rewarding. The team is supportive, the mission is clear, and the impact is tangible. It’s a feel-good initiative that can bring teams, customers, and communities together for a common cause, and we’re proud to be part of it.