BMO Bank of Montreal has jumped onboard to be a premier partner with the Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club. Starting this season, BMO Bank of Montreal is title sponsor of the Whitecaps Youth Soccer Development Pyramid program, which models its 16 teams on the European football club structure.
From the Moresports youth soccer camp, to the “high five line” youth squad at all men's and women's home games at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, to the end of the year youth awards, BMO will be supporting young soccer players as they improve and master their skills. Also, a worthy Whitecaps Super Y boy or girl will be chosen as a BMO Future Star and featured in all radio broadcasts and on whitecapsfc.com.
The sponsorship of the Whitecaps comes at a time when the sport of soccer is growing at a phenomenal rate. In British Columbia alone there are 120,000 registered players, making it the most popular sport in the province.
“BMO is proud to become a premier partner with the Whitecaps Football Club. We are looking forward to working with the Whitecaps organization to build on the incredible success they have already achieved with their youth programs,” said Derral Moriyama, Senior Vice-President, Vancouver District, BMO Bank of Montreal.
Moriyama added, “This new soccer sponsorship will help build and support the players as they move up through the ranks to the professional level. It also fits well with BMO's commitment to support community-based organizations that encourage a healthy and fit lifestyle. As the world's most loved sport, soccer appeals to many cultural communities and is highly accessible for families – both as an activity for their children and as a spectator sport since Whitecaps tickets are affordably priced.”
Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations, Bob Lenarduzzi said, “We are extremely pleased with BMO Bank of Montreal's commitment to be a premier partner of the Whitecaps. We see this as a great fit since both organizations are dedicated to promoting health and wellness in our community and to supporting youth as they strive to excel in the world's most popular sport.”
In addition to the men's and women's professional Whitecaps teams, there are two reserve teams and 12 boys and girls Super Y teams in the Whitecaps organization.
In British Columbia, BMO Financial Group has 3,000 employees and operates 140 BMO Bank of Montreal branches, six BMO Nesbitt Burns branches and three BMO Harris Private Banking offices.
BMO Financial Group contributed $37.9 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in 2005, supporting thousands of communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada and the USA. Locally, BMO provides major donations to organizations such as the United Way of the Lower Mainland, BCIT, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.
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