News Releases

BMO Financial Group Employees Give Over $1 Million to Greater Toronto Area Charities

The BMO Employee Charitable Foundation hosted a Celebration of Giving this evening, to distribute more than $1 million to 51 Greater Toronto Area charitable organizations.

BMO Financial Group employees and representatives from the supported charitable groups gathered at First Canadian Place in Toronto tonight to celebrate the culmination of a year of employee-driven fundraising efforts by the Foundation. The 2007 national fundraising campaign raised more than $8 million across the country, of which more than $4.5 million was raised in Ontario. This amount is over and above the $42.6 million that BMO Financial Group contributed in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada last year.

The Foundation is able to disburse 100 per cent of the money raised to local charities across Canada, as BMO Financial Group covers all administrative costs.

“Nothing provides a better perspective of BMO and what it stands for than this evening's Celebration of Giving,” said Bill Downe, President and CEO, BMO Financial Group. “Nearly everyone in the company participates in the BMO Employee Charitable Foundation in one way or another, whether in the private gesture of pledging money to the fund, or more publicly in one of the many fundraisers our employees organize to raise money. This event is a great opportunity to recognize the many BMO employees who support the Foundation, and honour these charities' efforts.”

“Once again, BMO employees have come together to support the Foundation's fundraising campaign,” said Heather Baird, Chair, Ontario Board of Directors, BMO Employee Charitable Foundation. “We're thrilled with what we achieved last year, and we're committed to having an even better 2008.”

“Habitat for Humanity Toronto very much appreciates the donation from the BMO Employee Charitable Foundation,” said Angela Solomos, Director, Corporate Partnerships, Habitat for Humanity Toronto. “It is only through the support of our community that we can continue to build homes and hope for deserving Toronto families. BMO's leadership and generosity will go a long way to ensure that we can continue this important work.”

“Covenant House is grateful for the generosity and care that BMO employees have shown our kids over the past 22 years,” said Pamela Quirk, Associate Director, Planned & Major Gifts, Covenant House Toronto. “It is only with continued support like theirs that we are able to open doors of opportunity and hope to thousands of homeless youth.”

Listed below are the recipient organizations of this donation:

AIDS Committee of Toronto
Alzheimer Society - Ontario Division
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society – Ontario
Armagh - A Program of Supportive Housing - Mississauga
Arthritis Society - Ontario Division
Autism Society of Ontario
Bloorview Kids Rehab Foundation
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Chapter
Canadian Cancer Society - Ontario Division
Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Ontario
Canadian Diabetes Association - Ontario Division
Canadian Feed the Children
Canadian Foundation for the Prevention of Family Violence – PACT
Canadian Liver Foundation - National Office
Canadian Red Cross – Ontario Division
Children's Aid Foundation
Children's Wish Foundation - Ontario Chapter
CNIB - Ontario Division
Covenant House – Toronto
Credit Valley Hospital Foundation
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada - Ontario Division
Daily Bread Food Bank – Toronto
Durham Regional Cancer Centre - Oshawa
Geneva Centre for Autism – Toronto
Gerrard Resource Centre
Grandview Children's Centre - Durham
Habitat for Humanity Toronto
Heart and Stroke Foundation - Ontario Division
Hospital for Sick Children Foundation - Toronto
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Ontario
Kidney Foundation of Canada - Central Ontario Branch
Kids Help Foundation - Ontario
Make a Wish Foundation- Toronto & Central Ontario
Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation of Toronto
Multiple Sclerosis Society - Ontario Division
Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Foundation
Ontario SPCA
Parkinson Society Canada
Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Red Door Shelter
Salvation Army - Development Department - Ontario Central Division
ShareLife – Toronto
St. Michael's Hospital Foundation – Toronto
Stephen Lewis Foundation
Sunnybrook Foundation – Toronto
Trillium Health Centre Foundation - Mississauga
United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto
United Way of Greater Toronto
Women's College Hospital Foundation
World Wildlife Fund - Toronto
Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation - Scarborough

BMO Employee Charitable Foundation improves the lives of those in need by supporting thousands of registered charities in Canada through the generous support of the employees, pensioned employees, customers and friends of BMO Financial Group. Since 1999, the Foundation has raised nearly $50 million for more than 3,000 charities across the country through the efforts and generosity of BMO Financial Group employees and customers.

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BMO President and CEO Bill Downe welcomes Angela Solomos (L), Habitat for Humanity Toronto and Pamela Quirk (R), Covenant House Toronto to the BMO Employee Charitable Foundation's 'Celebration of Giving'. The Foundation distributed more than $1 million at the event to GTA charities.