News Releases

BMO Nesbitt Burns employees have raised a record $2.24-million for United Way of Greater Toronto's 2004 fundraising campaign.

The gift is in addition to more than $3 million raised by BMO employees during the first half of BMO Fountain of Hope's annual campaign, the bank's employee foundation.

"BMO Nesbitt Burns employees have once again demonstrated their keen sense of community through their overwhelming support so that important agencies like United Way can continue to do good work," said Yvan Bourdeau, President and Chief Operating Officer, BMO Nesbitt Burns and co-Chair of the firm's employee campaign. "The $2.24-million raised this year is a record achievement and we are grateful for our employees' outstanding efforts to strengthen neighbourhoods and improve lives."

"The generosity of BMO Nesbitt Burns clearly demonstrates that the organization and its employees truly understand community needs," said Frances Lankin, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Toronto. "This money will help find solutions to community problems by giving young children a healthy start, supporting homeless and disabled people, helping seniors, abused women and their children and assisting newcomers to Canada."

In addition to charitable giving, more than 2,100 of the firm's Toronto-area employees held bake sales, breakfasts and volunteered their time at United Way shelters among other launch, awareness and fundraising events over the five-week campaign period.

For more than 186 years, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility in the communities it serves. BMO is one of Canada's top corporate donors, contributing more than $29 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events, supporting communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in 2004. For more information, visit www.bmo.com/community.

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