BMO Financial Group Employees Give $161,000 to Calgary Area Charities

CALGARY, April 21 /CNW/ - The BMO Employee Charitable Foundation hosted a Celebration of Giving today, to distribute funds to Calgary Area charitable organizations.

BMO Financial Group employees and representatives from various supported charitable groups gathered to celebrate the culmination of a year of employee-driven fundraising efforts by the Foundation.

    
    -   The 2009 Campaign raised a total of $483,486 for Alberta/NWT
        charities, many of whom attended the event.
    -   More than $8.7 million was raised Canada-wide through employee
        pledges and fundraisers.
    -   This is in addition to the $55 million that BMO Financial Group
        contributed in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada
        and the United States last year.
    

One hundred per cent of donations provided through the Foundation are disbursed to charities across Canada, as BMO Financial Group covers all administrative costs.

"Today's Celebration of Giving recognizes the tremendous work of these charities and the unwavering support of BMO employees," said David Sprague, Vice-President, Alberta South District.

"We invest in the well being of the neighbourhoods, towns and regions we serve because we are a part of them," continued Mr. Sprague. "Our commitment to helping meet the needs of the many organizations and groups that make our communities strong is driven by the people who work here. It's something we approach the same way we do every other part of our business: with a full-time commitment."

"We are thrilled that BMO employees have once again joined together to support the Foundation's fundraising campaign," said Julie Bussiere, Chair of BMO Employee Charitable Foundation. "Last year's results have been a tremendous achievement and we are looking forward to increasing our charitable support in our upcoming 2010/2011 campaign."

"During this time of economic uncertainty for thousands of people, today is a fine example of how together we can put our shared aspirations to work to strengthen our communities," said Kate Munoz, Regional Director, Kids Help Phone, Alberta & NWT.

Listed below are the local recipient organizations of this donation:

    
    Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation
    Alzheimer Society - Calgary
    Animal Rescue Recovery Centre - Calgary
    Big Brothers Big Sisters Calgary
    Calgary Humane Society
    Calgary Interfaith Food Bank Society
    Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter
    Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Calgary
    Canadian Cancer Society
    Canadian Diabetes Association - S. Alberta
    Children's Cottage Society
    Children's Wish Foundation - Alberta/NT Chapter
    Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
    Dreams Take Flight
    Heart and Stroke Foundation
    Hospice Calgary
    Inn From the Cold
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
    Kids Help Phone
    Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Alberta
    Meals on Wheels
    Multiple Sclerosis Society - Calgary
    STARS
    The Mustard Seed
    Tom Baker Cancer Centre
    Unicef
    United Way - Calgary and Area Alberta Adolescence Recovery Centre Calgary
    YWCA Calgary
    

About The BMO Employee Charitable Foundation

BMO Employee Charitable Foundation improves the lives of those in need by supporting thousands of registered charities in Canada through the generous support of the employees, pensioned employees, customers and friends of BMO Financial Group. Since 1999, the Foundation has raised over $64 million for more than 3,000 charities across the country through the efforts and generosity of BMO Financial Group employees and customers.

For further information: Media Contact: Laurie Grant, [phone], [email protected], Internet: www.bmo.com