Creating a Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins for young Montreal entrepreneurs
MONTREAL, Nov. 19, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - At its annual fundraising event, Soirée Montréal Inc., which brought 400 people from the business community together at Marché Bonsecours last night, Desjardins Group unveiled its support of $1 million to Fondation Montréal inc.
This major contribution was made in conjunction with the 2014-2018 fundraising campaign "Commitment to the Future" launched by Fondation Montréal inc. and will enable the Fondation to create the Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins, a physical and virtual service zone that will double the Fondation's intake capacity.
Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins will open in 2015 to provide coaching, training and market validation services by drawing on the contribution of the Fondation's vast network of 300 volunteers from the business community. Thanks to the Zone, 200 more entrepreneurs will find the doors of Montréal inc. open to facilitate and accelerate their business start-ups.
"Entrepreneurship and collaboration are part of the Desjardins Group DNA. The new Zone, relying on hundreds of volunteers, is a natural extension of the actions Desjardins supports on behalf of entrepreneurs," noted Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.
Lucien Bouchard, Chairman of the Board of Fondation Montréal inc., meanwhile, stressed the commitment made by Desjardins Group to the Fondation, which will be spread over several activities, such as the presentation of its annual fundraising event, Soirée Montréal inc. and the Montreal inc. Award. "Desjardins gives the Fondation the means to achieve its ambitions. As the organization grows it will benefit promising new companies that will contribute to our collective wealth for years to come."
About Fondation Montréal inc.
The Fondation invests in the creation and expansion of promising companies and provides ongoing support so they can contribute to Montreal's prosperity. Since 1996, the Fondation has awarded more than $6 million in grants to help start 817 businesses in Montreal from all sectors, which have created more than 2,535 jobs. The Fondation has helped create investments of more than $53 million in Montreal.
About Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins
Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins will be launched in 2015 and enable Fondation Montréal inc. to serve young entrepreneurs. By providing coaching, training and mentoring activities by peers to help advance young Montreal entrepreneurs' business projects, Zone Montréal inc./Desjardins will promote the emergence of new companies.
About Desjardins Group
Desjardins Group is the leading cooperative financial group in Canada and the fourth largest cooperative financial group in the world with assets close to $227 billion. It has been rated one of Canada's Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp Canada. To meet the diverse needs of members and clients, Desjardins offers a full range of products and services to Individuals and businesses through its extensive distribution network, online platforms and subsidiaries across Canada. The group has one of the highest capital ratios and credit ratings in the industry. In 2014, Desjardins was named the fourth safest bank in North America by Global Finance magazine and the second strongest bank in the world by Bloomberg News.
Image with caption: "Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, Lucien Bouchard, Chairman of the Board of Fondation Montréal inc., Stéphane Achard, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Business, Institutional Services, Card and Payment Services at Desjardins Group, Norman Hébert, Jr., Co-Chair of the fundraising campaign "A commitment to the future". (CNW Group/Fondation Montréal inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141119_C6334_PHOTO_EN_8270.jpg
SOURCE: Fondation Montréal inc.
Fondation Montréal inc.: Andrée Lemay, MBA, Director of Communications and Partnerships, Telephone: 514 872-5768, Cell.: 514 449-2209, [email protected]; Desjardins Group: Richard Lacasse, Media Relations, Desjardins Group, 418 835-8444 or 1 866 835-8444 ext 3163
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