National Bank is Proud to Welcome Tomorrow's Tennis Hopefuls to the International Junior Tennis Open in Repentigny, Quebec

REPENTIGNY, QC, Aug. 20, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank invites you to the 28th annual International Junior Tennis Open to be held in Repentigny, Quebec from August 23 to 31 in Parc Larochelle, located at 366 Marquis.

Quebec's Hugo Di Feo, first in Canada and 46th overall on the International Tennis Federation's Juniors ranking, and Françoise Abanda, winner of the girls' singles at last years' National Bank International Junior Tennis Open, will be among the headliners.

The National Bank International Junior Tennis Open is one of the largest international tennis tournaments, and brings together the best players aged 14 to 18 from approximately 30 countries. The only international class Grade 1 tournament in Canada, the Open is currently ranked the 4th most important junior tournament in the world by the International Tennis Federation. This competition allows spectators to enjoy thrilling matches featuring the tennis superstars of tomorrow, free of charge.

"National Bank has a longstanding commitment to the future of tennis and the development of Canadian athletes. We support a wide range of tennis organizations, from the rookie level to the professional circuit. The Bank's sponsorship of the International Junior Tennis Open in Repentigny reflects our commitment to fostering athletic development and instilling the values of determination, discipline and excellence in youth," said Sylvie Roy, Regional Vice-President - Eastern Montreal at National Bank.

Every year, through its donations and sponsorships program and the initiatives of its employees, National Bank supports hundreds of organizations in the communities it serves across Canada. In addition to its involvement in tennis, the Bank is dedicated to helping young people achieve their full potential through its One for Youth Program. To find out more, consult the Social Responsibility Report at www.nbc.ca/socialresponsibility.

The International Junior Tennis Open is a key event for athletes, as well as a fun outing for people of all ages. On August 24, National Bank will distribute gifts in Parc Larochelle as part of the Open's Family Day celebration. The following day, National Bank clients will take the court for a special match against Chantal Deschamps, Mayor of Repentigny, Benoît Delisle, President of the Open, Marie-Ève Pelletier, Honorary Chair of the 2013 event, and Sylvain Benoît, Chairman of the Repentigny Sports and Recreation Committee.

"Participating in this tournament also gives us another opportunity to promote our On the Ball program for recovering used tennis ball to benefit schools. The program has collected over 750,000 tennis balls since it was launched in 2006, to the delight of students and teachers," stated Sylvie Roy.

National Bank is pursuing this program in Quebec and Ontario. Using old tennis balls as chair slippers helps reduce noise levels in the classroom and create better learning conditions for children.

National Bank's special team and booth will be on site at the International Junior Tennis Open in Repentigny. The team will encourage tennis fans to donate their used tennis balls. In return, they will have the chance to win various instant prizes and be eligible for the grand prize, a dream day with On the Ball spokesperson and Canadian tennis champion Aleksandra Wozniak.

For more information about the contest, the stops on the ball recovery tour, or to order used balls for schools or school boards, visit the On the Ball Program website at www.nbc.ca/ontheball.

About National Bank of Canada
With $185 billion in assets as at April 30, 2013, National Bank of Canada (www.nbc.ca) together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups, and has been named among the 20 strongest banks in the world by Bloomberg Markets magazine. The Bank has close to 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

SOURCE: National Bank of Canada

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