Tangerine ready to throw down moves at 2015 UNITY Festival

7th annual event will bring together talented hip-hop acts in celebration of youth engagement and positive change

TORONTO, July 23, 2015 /CNW/ - This weekend, Tangerine is proud to be the lead sponsor at the 2015 UNITY Festival as part of its recently launched sponsorship and community investment program, #BrightWayForward. Featuring some of the most dedicated and talented youth performers across Canada, the four-day event supporting UNITY Charity will celebrate the use of hip-hop and the arts to empower youth across Canada with the confidence and skills for success.

Following three amazing nights featuring beatboxing, breakdancing, and MC and spoken word poetry, the festival will culminate on Saturday, July 25 with a free concert at Yonge-Dundas Square. Tangerine employees are set to hit the stage with their own original hip-hop performance, followed by UNITY youth performers who are sure to wow the crowd. The event will also feature performances by leading hip-hop entertainers including: GZA, Airplane Boys, Rich Kidd, Ghettosocks and more.

"UNITY is so thankful for Tangerine's continued support over the years, and we're proud to have them once again as the lead sponsor of our most coveted festival," said Michael Prosserman, executive director at UNITY Charity. "Tangerine truly believes in our cause and their #BrightWayForward program shares the same goals of empowering youth and building confident and successful community role models."

Saturday's festivities will take place from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and attendees of all ages are invited to come down and join the fun. Festival-goers can also drop by Tangerine's booth to pick up fun swag, receive a temporary air brushed empowerment tattoo designed by a UNITY artist, and even sign up for a Tangerine Account with our quick and easy Sign Me Up app.

"Tangerine has a longstanding commitment to giving back to communities across Canada and we're thrilled to continue our support of UNITY Charity at the 2015 UNITY Festival, helping to create a #BrightWayForward for Canadian youth," said Jacqueline Emes, Community Investment Manager at Tangerine. "We really feel part of the UNITY family and can't wait to hit the stage and show our support – and moves!"

Tangerine's sponsorship and community investment platform, #BrightWayForward, is helping to empower more than 500,000 Canadians through support of community programs that inspire self-esteem, teamwork and leadership and encourage a sense of belonging and acceptance.

About UNITY Charity
UNITY Charity engages youth by implementing school and community programs helping youth positively express their stress and develop skills for success. UNITY empowers youth to make better choices as leaders, mentors and positive community role models leading to more productive citizens, safer schools, and healthier communities. Founded in 2007 by  aka "Bboy Piecez", one of Toronto's most preeminent B-boys, UNITY has reached over 100,000 youth across Canada through its after-school program designed to teach positive self-expression through beatboxing, breakdancing, spoken word, poetry, graffiti, and more.

About Tangerine
Tangerine is a direct bank that delivers simplified everyday banking to Canadians. With more than 1.9 million clients and close to $38 billion in total assets, we are Canada's leading direct bank. Tangerine offers banking that is flexible and accessible, products and services that are innovative, fair fees, and award-winning client service. From no-fee daily chequing and high-interest savings accounts, GICs, RSPs, TFSAs, mortgages and mutual funds, Tangerine has the everyday banking products Canadians need. With over 1,000 employees in Canada, our presence extends beyond our website and Mobile Banking app to our Café locations, Pop-Up locations and 24/7 Contact Centres. Tangerine was launched as ING DIRECT Canada in 1997. In 2012 it was acquired by Scotiabank, and operates independently as a wholly-owned subsidiary. For more information, visit tangerine.ca

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SOURCE Tangerine

Cayley Kochel, Tangerine, 416-497-5157 ext. 4013, [email protected]