Financial literacy programs in Ontario and Quebec receive over a quarter of a million dollars and many volunteering hours to help young people
MONTREAL, Nov. 28, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - It's never too early, or too late, to learn about planning for a sound financial future. Standard Life Canada and its employees are well aware of the importance of understanding early the basics of saving and investing. Standard Life contributed to this year's financial literacy month by donating over $256,000 to organizations promoting educational programs.
"At Standard Life, we feel that it's never too early to help the next generation of investors understand the importance of managing their finances," said Charles Guay, President and CEO. "That's why we team up with our employees and charitable organizations to help young Canadians gain financial knowledge and skills. As part of financial literacy month, we want to recognize those who are helping us achieve these objectives."
Junior Achievement of Canada
Standard Life signed a multi-year contribution to Junior Achievement of Canada, in support of Dollars with Sense and Economics for Success, two classroom programs that focus on teaching financial literacy, work readiness and school perseverance programs. This month, Avnee Patel, Manager, Business Development, Group Savings and Retirement, and over 25 of her colleagues will visit several Grade 7 classrooms in the Greater Toronto Area to teach students about personal finance and help them understand how to plan their financial future. In early 2014, a group of employees in Montreal will meet with students to talk about the benefits of staying in school.
Académie du Trésor
Standard Life contributed to the Académie du Trésor's financial educational program in Quebec. The Académie offers a 15-week after-school program to more than 300 secondary level students in Sherbrooke, in Montérégie and now in Montréal. The program offers basic training in personal finance. This November, Patrick Gagnon, Senior Investment Consultant, is teaching portions of the program in a Montréal secondary school.
Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Côte-des-Neiges
Standard Life gave to support Carrefour Jeunesse Emploi Côte-des-Neiges' Monnaie-Money financial literacy program. This month, Anne Ducharme, Lead Designer, will be part of the jury that will review the videos that young participants will submit as part of the Monnaie-Money Financial Literacy Video Contest. These videos focus on the importance for youth to have financial literacy and money management skills. Winners will be announced at the end of this month.
HEC Montréal
Standard Life recognized the talent of Olivier Roy-Durocher and Charles Perron-Piché, two Finance students from HEC Montréal and members of the Standard Life-HEC Montréal Fund management committee. Both students have earned a Standard Life Grant for their exceptional work as portfolio analysts and managers of the Fund.
The Standard Life-HEC Montréal Fund was created in 1999 with a $2 million endowment. It now has a market value of more than $4.8 million, making it the second-largest student fund in Canada. Finance and Economics students on the management committee act as portfolio analysts and managers. They report to a team of professors from the Department of Finance and to Standard Life Canada and Standard Life Investments representatives.
Financial literacy month is also about fighting financial Inertia
Last October, Standard Life launched a comprehensive program at financial-inertia.com aimed at getting Canadians moving and breaking free from financial inertia, primarily due to financial uncertainty and the volume and complexity of information. At the heart of the fight against financial inertia is the Motion Profiler, a new online tool all Canadians can use to understand how finances and investing fit into their broader life goals and concerns, and what might be preventing them from saving or holding them back from investing.
About Standard Life
Standard Life provides long-term savings, investment and insurance solutions to more than 1.4 million Canadians, including group retirement and insurance plan members.
Standard Life in Canada has been doing business for 180 years and has approximately 2,000 employees. It is the largest operation outside of the United Kingdom of Standard Life plc, its parent company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Standard Life has a long-standing commitment to the communities in which it conducts business. It gives back through corporate donations and sponsorships, and its employee community engagement program which encourages Standard Life employees to volunteer with and provide financial assistance to organizations they support.
Image with caption: "Patrick Gagnon, Senior Investment Consultant at Standard Life, is teaching portions of the Académie du Trésor program in a Montréal secondary school (CNW Group/Standard Life)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131128_C5870_PHOTO_EN_34030.jpg
Image with caption: "From left to right: Nicolas Sirois, Standard Life, Marie-Ève Savard, Standard Life Investments, Olivier Roy-Durocher and Charles Perron-Piché received the Standard Life Grant and Alain Elkaim, HEC Montréal (CNW Group/Standard Life)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131128_C5870_PHOTO_EN_34031.jpg
SOURCE: Standard Life
Anne-Julie Gratton
External Communications and Public Affairs
514-499-7999, ext. 8150
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