News Releases

BMO Nesbitt Burns launched its 2004 United Way Employee Campaign today with a pancake breakfast on its trading floor in the heart of Toronto's financial district.

“Our employees have a proud tradition of supporting the United Way through fundraising, volunteer work and individual donations," said Colleen Campbell, Executive Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns and co-Chair of BMO Nesbitt Burns' employee campaign.

"Our annual employee campaign is the centrepiece of a firm-wide commitment to give back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Richard Mills, Executive Vice President, BMO Nesbitt Burns and co-Chair of the firm’s employee campaign.

Also on hand to launch the campaign were:
Darryl Sittler, former Toronto Maple Leaf
Susan Hay, one of Global Television’s most popular on-air personalities
Julian Fantino, Toronto’s Chief of Police
Michael Burgess of Les Misérables and Hockey Night in Canada
Erin Davis, of the upcoming production of Cinderella
Bill Downe, CEO of BMO Nesbitt Burns and other senior executives of the firm

Last year, the firm's 2,100 Toronto-area employees raised $1.6 million for the United Way during the three-week campaign.

"We are thrilled with the support of BMO Nesbitt Burns," said Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toronto. "The enthusiasm of employees translates into generous donations to help the community through United Way. Thank you, without you, there would be no way."

"Newcomers have had a history of making enormous contributions to our country and our city," said Ms. Lankin. "Yet services for newcomers, particularly in the inner suburbs, are lacking. United Way funding will provide much-needed programs, particularly for youth, women and seniors to help them adjust to life in Canada and contribute positively to our city."

The United Way campaign is one of the major fundraising events of BMO Fountain of Hope, the charitable foundation of Canadian employees and pensioned employees of BMO Financial Group.

BMO Financial Group – founded in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, Canada’s first bank – is one of the largest financial services providers in North America, offering a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.  BMO serves clients across Canada and in the United States through its Canadian retail arm, BMO Bank of Montreal; BMO Nesbitt Burns, one of Canada's largest full-service investment firms; Chicago-based Harris Bank, a major U.S. mid-west financial services organization; The Harris wealth management group, and Harris Nesbitt, which provides investment and corporate banking services across the U.S.

United Way of Greater Toronto is a leader in cost-efficient fundraising, with fundraising costs of 11.9 per cent. It funds a network of 200 health and social service agencies that support one in three people in Toronto, including children, youth, homeless and disabled people, abused women, newcomers, seniors and people in crisis. United Way of Greater Toronto’s 2004 fundraising goal for the community is $82.5 million.

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