Manitoba has spoken! $100,000 awarded to 2015 MTS Future First grant recipients

WINNIPEG, May 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Today is Manitoba Day, and MTS celebrated by revealing the names of this year's 10 recipients of its $10,000 MTS Future First grants.  This is the second year $100,000 has been awarded to youth-serving organizations in the province.

"Since moving to Manitoba at the start of the year, I have been struck by the tremendous sense of community and shared values in this great province.  The MTS Future First grant program helps ensure that Manitoba remains strong and vibrant.  For the past three weeks, Manitobans made their voices heard and voted for the organization they believe should receive one of these grants," said Chief Executive Officer Jay Forbes. "While the organizations selected address a variety of needs, they share a true desire to enhance the lives of youth in Manitoba, and MTS is proud to help them do just that."

The 2015 MTS Future First $10,000 grants recipients are:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Morden-Winkler:  Kicks for Kids
• Gaining Resources Our Way Inc.:  G.R.O.W in Gimli
• Brandon University:  Opportunities for Youth - Mini University
• The Pas Action Centre:  After School Program
• Siloam Mission;  Exit Up! - Winnipeg
• Motivate Canada:  GEN7 Aboriginal Role Model Program - Cross Lake
• Career & Employment Youth Services:  Stepping Stones - Brandon
• Rainbow Resource Centre:  Youth Educating Against Homophobia (YEAH!) - Winnipeg
• Ma Mawi-Wi-Chi-Itata Centre Inc.:  Indigenous Girls Voices & Choices - Winnipeg
• Wayfinders Manitoba Inc.:  After School Mentorship/Wellness - Winnipeg

The names of the recipients were revealed every hour on the hour from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today

"Celebrating community and caring while helping to build a stronger Manitoba for our young people - what a great way to enjoy my first Manitoba Day," added Mr. Forbes.

To learn more about the ten recipient organizations and the great work they are doing on behalf of Manitoba's youth, click here.

About MTS Future First
MTS is the leading full-service communications provider for residential and business customers in Manitoba. MTS Future First: Connecting Today's Youth to Tomorrow is a multi-faceted community investment program that includes sponsorships, grants, donations, scholarships, employee volunteerism and fundraising programs to help in the advancement of Manitoba youth and reflects MTS's philosophy of investing and giving back to our community. The program articulates a clear vision for MTS's ongoing contribution to a thriving economy fueled by a vibrant, diverse workforce - one nurtured in healthy communities that provide opportunity and optimism for our young people. For more information about Future First, please visit www.mts.ca/futurefirst, and follow us @MTSFutureFirst.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer
This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about MTS's products and services that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any conclusion, forecast or projection in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Examples of statements that constitute forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "project", "should", "anticipate", "could", "target", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "outlook", "see", "set", "pending", and other similar terms.

Factors that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, matters identified in the "Material assumptions" section and the "Risks and uncertainties" section of the Company's 2014 Annual Management's Discussion & Analysis and 2014 Annual Information Form, both of which are available on SEDAR www.sedar.com.

Please note that forward-looking statements reflect Management's expectations as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE MTS Allstream

Craig Lawrence, MTS Community Investment
204 958-3230
[email protected]