Canadian outfit Simple Plan may be at least partially responsible for making it OK for mediocre pop-punk acts to include lighter-raising arena balladry on their albums, but the band is also responsible for raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer awareness and research via its own self-titled philanthropic foundation.

When singer Pierre Bouvier's brother Jay was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at 28, the Montreal group formed the Simple Plan Foundation. The ensuing benefits - along with the band's own money made from ticket and merchandise sales - have since raised over $300,000 for various worldwide anti-cancer initiatives.

Jay is thankfully in remission these days, but his brother and his bandmates continue to set a sterling example in social responsibility. Proceeds from the iTunes single for the song "Save You," which went on sale yesterday, are earmarked for donation to charity. In addition, a video featuring all manner of cancer survivors, from Sharon Osborne and Barenaked Ladies' Kevin Hearn to Montreal Canadiens team captain Saku Koivu and original Hairspray star Marissa Winokur, in in the works.

Bravo, dudes.