RBC grants $300,000 and begins partnership with Wilderness Inquiry

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Sept. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - RBC announced today a significant expansion of its commitment to youth and the environment in the United States with a $300,000 grant to Wilderness Inquiry, a national non-profit based in Minnesota. Given by RBC Foundation-USA, the grant will be paid out over three years and will support Wilderness Inquiry's youth-focused programs, such as Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures (UWCA) and Canoemobile.

"RBC and Wilderness Inquiry share a common commitment to natural resources in the U.S. and to young people," said John Taft, CEO, RBC Wealth Management-U.S. "We are proud to be a part of a program that provides an educational experience for youth and inspires them to become environmental stewards for future generations."

The grant is jointly funded by RBC Wealth Management-U.S. and RBC Capital Markets-U.S., which employ a combined 8,000 people in the United States.

Wilderness Inquiry began in 1978 with a mission to connect people from all walks of life to the natural world through shared outdoor adventures. Since its inception, Wilderness Inquiry has served over 385,000 people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities through canoe, kayak, rafting, hiking, dogsled, ski, horseback and safari adventures throughout North America and the world.

"We are thrilled to partner with RBC. It's a great fit in terms of mission, reach, and the people involved. We're all in this boat together," said Greg Lais, Wilderness Inquiry's Executive Director.

Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile program incorporates roving fleets of hand-made, 24-foot Voyageur canoes that travel across America, transforming the relationship between urban youth and the natural world.

Last month, 75 RBC Wealth Management employees in Minneapolis-St. Paul experienced an adventure first hand when they hopped aboard Wilderness Inquiry's fleet of Voyageur Canoes for an educational trip down the Mississippi River. With RBC Wealth Management-U.S. CEO John Taft at the helm, employees paddled 10 miles, beginning at Coon Rapids Dam and ending the three-hour excursion at Boom Island in Minneapolis.

The Urban Wilderness Canoe Adventures program connects thousands of urban youth to the natural world through hands-on learning adventures in environments that are close to home in the Twin Cities. The Canoemobile is a national outreach initiative "seeding" UWCA style programs in 50 cities across the U.S. This is a collaborative effort of Wilderness Inquiry, the National Park Service, and many other partner organizations—representing the best principles of what is known as Collective Impact.

About RBC Wealth Management – U.S.
In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Capital Markets, LLC. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges. RBC Wealth Management has more than $260 billion of assets under administration and nearly 2,000 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 42 states.

ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest bank, and one of the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, investor services and capital markets products and services on a global basis. We employ approximately 79,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 16 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 40 other countries. For more information, please visit rbc.com.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2013, we contributed more than $104 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $69 million and $35 million in sponsorships. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.

SOURCE: RBC Wealth Management - U.S.

Nicole Garrison, RBC Wealth Management, [phone], [email protected]