HSBC Bank Canada puts its money where its volunteers are

Junior Achievement of Canada to receive $1 Million over three years

VANCOUVER, Nov. 26, 2014 /CNW/ - HSBC believes that investing in education is one of the most powerful ways to improve lives and enhance opportunities for young people. That is why HSBC Bank Canada today announced its support of Junior Achievement (JA) of Canada, through a new three-year $1 million contribution that will be accompanied by the power of its employee volunteers to help prepare students across Canada for future success.

Junior Achievement is a national not-for-profit organization that creates and delivers educational programs to students aged 8-18 with a focus on financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness. Junior Achievers are more likely to stay in school, pursue a career in business, open their own business, and they earn 50 per cent more, on average, than those who have not participated in the program.

HSBC's support of JA is focused on the "Our Business World" program, to reach 25,000 Grade 5 students in more than 900 classrooms across the country. To help achieve this goal, HSBC kicked-off the program earlier this month as part of Financial Literacy Month in Canada and HSBC employee volunteers from across Canada are signing up to deliver the program in classrooms located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Ralph Hilton, Chief Risk Officer, HSBC Bank Canada and Executive Sponsor of the Bank's support of JA, said: "Education and the environment are fundamental building blocks of healthy communities. At HSBC, we have been helping businesses to thrive and economies to prosper for nearly 150 years, and this commitment goes beyond our everyday business by helping the innovators and captains of tomorrow to realise their educational dreams and ambitions.

"This program is also a great opportunity for our employees to get involved and give back to the communities in which they live and work. Our employees can use their business and finance skills to help children learn about budgeting, entrepreneurship, money management, and workplace skills."

Link to JA video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b--J1gs038

About HSBC Bank Canada
HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in Canada. The HSBC Group serves customers worldwide from over 6,200 offices in over 74 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,729bn at 30 September 2014, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations.

About Junior Achievement of Canada

Junior Achievement of Canada is the country's largest youth business education organization and is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in the global economy. Offering programs in the areas of financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work readiness, Junior Achievement strives to help students make informed and knowledgeable financial decisions, develop career plans and express their innovative spirit. For more information please follow us on Twitter @ja_canada or visit our website at www.jacanada.org.

Image with caption: "Elaine Kam, AVP Taxation, HSBC Bank Canada, delivering the HSBC 'Our Business World' program to grade 5 students at St. Pius X Elementary School in North Vancouver, BC -- one of the 900 classrooms to host the program over the next three years. (CNW Group/HSBC Bank Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141126_C6464_PHOTO_EN_8531.jpg

SOURCE: HSBC Bank Canada

Media enquiries: Fabrice de Dongo, Senior Media Relations Manager, HSBC Bank Canada, 416-868-8282, [email protected]; Aurora Bonin, Senior Media Relations Manager, HSBC Bank Canada, 604-641-1905, [email protected]