CIBC helps those who deliver fresh, nutritious food to the hungry

With a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest

TORONTO, Nov. 19 /CNW/ - CIBC is pleased to announce a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest, an organization that collects perishable foods and delivers it to over 200 social service agencies in Toronto. 

The presentation is to take place at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 20^th, at CIBC's new branch on Dufferin and Rimrock in Toronto.

"The $25,000 donation from CIBC will help Second Harvest provide fresh food for over 50,000 meals to hungry people in Toronto - the equivalent of feeding more than 130 families for a month. This support will be very meaningful for those in need in our community, especially during this season of celebration and giving," said Stephen Faul, Executive Director, Second Harvest.

"CIBC believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work," said Larry Tomei, CIBC's Senior Vice-President for Central Canada. "We are pleased to make this donation that will help Second Harvest continue to deliver nutritious food to those in need across Toronto."

Since 1985, Second Harvest has been collecting and delivering fresh food that would otherwise go to waste from the city's restaurants and small grocery stores to shelters across the city.  Unlike a food bank, they deal primarily with fruits, vegetables, dairy products, frozen foods and meats.  Today, Second Harvest provides enough fresh and frozen foods for over 16,000 meals a day

Over the past six years CIBC has donated over $125,000 to Second Harvest. 

CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, employees and our communities.  We aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees.  With a strategic focus on youth, education and health, and employee commitment to causes including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, the CIBC Children's Foundation and United Way, we are investing in the social and economic development of communities across the country. In 2010, $33.7 million was contributed through the CIBC group of companies to charitable and non-profit initiatives in Canada, supporting a wide variety of national, regional and local organizations. To learn more, visit www.communitymatters.cibc.com.

For further information:

Susan Calderwood, Manager, Community Investment - Ontario, CIBC, Tel: [phone]