News Releases

$750,000 Gift from BMO Financial Group for Leadership Scholarships

BMO Financial Group has pledged $750,000 to create an endowment fund to support the BMO Financial Group Leadership Scholarships at the University of Manitoba.

These prestigious scholarships, valued over $6,000 each, will go to second, third and fourth year students in undergraduate programs, based on high academic standing and extracurricular involvement. The BMO Scholarship program is the first of its kind at the University of Manitoba, in that the awards are renewable for three years providing students maintain high academic standing and community involvement.

"Since our founding in 1817, BMO has been helping to make our communities stronger and more prosperous; it's the way we do business," said John MacAulay, Vice-President for Manitoba at BMO Bank of Montreal, who is also a graduate of the university's Faculty of Arts and Asper School of Business. "We're committed as an organization to providing our employees with life-long learning opportunities and our corporate giving also focuses on funding programs that promote learning, namely through scholarships that support exceptional young people at universities and colleges in Manitoba and across the country."

"I am delighted that BMO Financial Group is supporting our brightest students throughout their undergraduate degrees," said Emőke Szathmáry, President and Vice-Chancellor. "The BMO scholarship program builds on our Leaders of Tomorrow entrance scholarships and encourages students to continue to excel and remain involved in their community. These awards will help us educate the outstanding individuals who will contribute to a vibrant economy and strong communities for Manitoba and across Canada."

"As a student, I am very grateful for support from donors such as BMO Financial Group," said Kyla Caners, 2004-05 Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship recipient. "Students appreciate the confidence shown in them by the awarding of such scholarships as well as the monetary value of the award."

BMO Financial Group contributed more than $29 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in 2004 in Canada, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations across the country. BMO Financial Group operates 32 BMO Bank of Montreal branches and two BMO Nesbitt Burns branches in Manitoba, and has a combined total of more than 600 employees in the province.

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