BMO Financial Group Employees Give $484,363 to Vancouver Area Charities

VANCOUVER, April 23 /CNW/ - BMO Employee Charitable Foundation (ECF) hosted a Celebration of Giving yesterday, to distribute funds to 22 Vancouver 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 $891,000 for BC & Yukon charities,
       many of whom attended this 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.

"Celebration of Giving recognizes the tremendous work of these charities and the unwavering support of BMO employees," said Rob Serraglio, Senior Vice President, BMO Bank of Montreal, BC & Yukon Division and Honourary Chair of BMO ECF.

"We invest in the well being of the neighbourhoods, towns and regions we serve, because we are a part of them," continued Rob. "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 Bruce Hogg, Regional BMO ECF Chair. "Last year's results were a tremendous achievement, and we are looking forward to increasing our charitable support in our upcoming 2010/2011 campaign."

"Like BC Children's Hospital, BMO serves communities from Prince Rupert to Cranbrook and everywhere in between," said Sue Carruthers, President and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. "We're delighted to once again receive tremendous support from BMO employees."

Listed below are the recipient organizations of this donation:

    
    Arthritis Society, BC & Yukon Division
    Autism Society, BC & Yukon Division
    BC Cancer Foundation
    BC Children's Hospital Foundation
    BC SPCA
    Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver Foundation
    Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
    Canadian Cancer Society - BC & Yukon
    Canadian Women's Foundation (Shelter from the Storm)
    Canuck Place Children's Hospice
    CH.I.L.D. Foundation
    CNIB
    Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation
    Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation
    Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon
    Kids Help Phone
    Langley Memorial Hospital Foundation
    Multiple Sclerosis Society, BC & Yukon Division
    Surrey Food Bank
    Union Gospel Mission
    United Way of the Lower Mainland
    Variety Club of British Columbia
    

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 $75 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