News Releases
“BMO Financial Group's gift to the Campaign for BC Children, the largest in the bank's history in BC, is based on the belief that we have a key role to play in helping to ensure that our communities remain strong and vibrant,” said Rob Serraglio, senior vice president, BC & Yukon Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. “Children are the building blocks of a successful society. We are excited to be able to support the construction of the Emergency Department, an area that literally saves children's lives on a daily basis.”
BMO Financial Group, with the help of its employees and customers, has supported BC Children's Hospital for 20 years. Including the gift announced today, BMO has contributed a total of $4.43 million to the hospital since 1988.
“Since 1988, the actions of BMO employees – from participation in BC Children's Hospital Foundation's fundraising events to serving on the Foundation's Board of Directors – reflect a tremendous commitment to BC's communities,” said Sue Carruthers, president and CEO of BC Children's Hospital Foundation. “BMO's gift today reflects a deep commitment to the children and families of this province and a desire to help where the need is greatest.”
Priorities of the Campaign for BC Children include construction of a new hospital – including an Emergency Department, Diagnostics and Imaging, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Operating Suites and patient rooms; the relocation of childhood development and rehabilitation services from Sunny Hill Health Centre in East Vancouver to the Oak Street home of BC Children's, and Child Health BC, a BC Children's Hospital initiative that is building pediatric care capacity throughout the province.
Construction of the new Children's Hospital will provide urgently needed space for critical care. For example, the current operating rooms are antiquated and do not have adequate space to accommodate the high tech equipment required for complex surgical procedures. Patient rooms in the existing hospital were not built to accommodate family members or provide the healing environment children need for quicker recovery.
On April 14, 2008, at the announcement of the Campaign for BC Children, Premier Gordon Campbell announced provincial government support for the plan to rebuild the hospital and relocate Sunny Hill. To date, BC Children's Hospital Foundation has numerous contributions to the campaign, including gifts of $20 million and $25 million from the Overwaitea Food Group and Teck Cominco Limited, respectively.
The Campaign for BC Children is calling on British Columbians to “Be a Superhero” for BC's children by making a donation to the campaign. Donations can be made online at www.beasuperhero.ca or by calling 604-333-5417 or toll-free at 1-877-977-HERO (4376). More information on the campaign and its priorities is available at www.beasuperhero.ca.
About BMO Financial Group
Since its founding in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group has supported the principles of community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2007, BMO contributed $50.4 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and the U.S., supporting thousands of charities and not-for-profit organizations and programs that help build and sustain healthy communities. With more than 35,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions. In British Columbia, BMO Bank of Montreal has 142 branches; BMO Nesbitt Burns has six offices outside of the Bank of Montreal branch network and BMO Harris Private Banking has five offices.
About BC Children's Hospital
BC Children's Hospital is the province's only full-service acute care hospital and serves the one million children living in BC and the Yukon. All children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children's Hospital and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation from Children's specialists, in their home community. Last year, more than 72,000 children were treated at Children's Hospital. BC Children's Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 82,000 people last year and had revenues of over $54.4 million. Funds raised by the foundation are used to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
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