News Releases
TORONTO and NEW YORK, September 15, 2008 – BMO Capital Markets, the investment and corporate banking arm of BMO Financial Group (TSX, NYSE: BMO), is proud to announce its fourth Equity Through Education charitable trading day.
All institutional equity trading commissions earned by BMO Capital Markets across North America on September 17, will go directly to nine important organizations, to improve access to education and training for bright, deserving individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
“We all know that access to education can change lives. There is no shortage of students with talent and ambition but not all have the support and means to help attain their goals. At BMO Capital Markets, we value the importance of building a team with diverse backgrounds and experiences. To date, through this special trading day, we have assisted more than 1500 students through scholarships, bursaries and other workforce initiatives, some have even come through our own BMO internship program,” said Eric Tripp, President, BMO Capital Markets. “We are honoured to be able to contribute to these organizations that work tirelessly at improving lives, strengthening neighborhoods to establish a foundation for individuals to achieve personal fulfillment through education.”
Since the launch of the program in 2005, Equity Through Education has raised more than CDN$4.9 million / US$4.18 million to support education and diversity. More than 1,500 individuals have benefited from the program through scholarships, bursaries, mentoring programs and job search strategy forums.
BMO Capital Markets, through its parent, BMO Financial Group, has a proud tradition of supporting community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility to the communities it serves. In 2007, BMO Financial Group contributed $50.4 million in donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and the United States to support charities, not-for profit organizations and programs in communities across Canada and the United States.
About the charities that Equity Through Education supports:
- Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (CMSF)
Canada's largest independent scholarship organization for undergraduate study identifies and supports talented students, in this case women, who display leadership potential and a strong commitment of service in the community. To date, Equity through Education has funded 12 full undergraduate Loran scholarships.
www.cmsf.ca - The Financial Women's Association
The Financial Women's Association (FWA) is a leading executive organization committed to shaping leaders in business and finance with a special emphasis on the role and development of women. The FWA serves its members through educational programs and networking opportunities, and serves the community through its nationally acclaimed scholarship, mentoring and training programs. Equity through Education has provided funds to endow six full scholarships annually for young women in the FWA Baruch College mentoring program.
www.fwa.org - Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth (FAAY)
FAAY is a scholarship and bursary program dedicated to developing the next generation of aboriginal leaders. By encouraging youth to stay in school, FAAY bridges the gap between the reality aboriginal youth face in their communities and the opportunities available to those with higher education. Equity through Education has funded 104 post-secondary scholarships and FAAY's endowment to date.
www.ccab.com - The Jackie Robinson Foundation
The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides education and leadership development opportunities for students of color with strong capabilities, but limited financial resources. Serving as an advocate for young people with the greatest need, the Foundation assists increasing numbers of minority youths through the granting of scholarships for higher education. Equity through Education provided funding for five JRF/BMO Scholars as well as for our internship placement program, in which nearly 100 Scholars participated in 2008.
www.jackierobinson.org - The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF)
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) is a nationally registered non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to deliver programs that provide the tools necessary for Aboriginal peoples especially youth to achieve brighter futures. Since 1985 the Foundation through its Education Program has awarded more than $27.7-million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 7,000 First Nations, Inuit and M�tis students nationwide. Equity Through Education funding will support NAAF's scholarship program.
www.naaf.ca - The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
NEADS is a national organization that works to achieve full access to education for post-secondary students with disabilities across Canada. NEADS also supports the transition from school to the employment market for college and university graduates with disabilities. Equity through Education funds have supported 11 scholarships and 16 training forums for students with disabilities across the country as they prepare to enter the job market.
www.neads.ca - Pathways Canada
A unique program first created and implemented in Toronto's Regent Park, Pathways Canada supports “at-risk”, economically disadvantaged youth through high school and inspires them to move on to post-secondary programs. It operates in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. To date, Equity through Education has funded bursaries for 158 Pathways students.
www.pathwaystoeducation.ca - YAI National Institute for People with Disabilities Network
For 50 years, the YAI/NIPD Network has provided a place of hope for people with developmental and learning disabilities. Comprising seven not-for-profit, independent health and human service agencies, the YAI/NIPD Network serves 20,000 individuals of all ages, and their families in more than 450 community-based programs. Equity Through Education has helped more than 175 individuals with developmental and learning disabilities through employment training, and more than 50 potential employers were educated in the abilities and qualifications of these committed job candidates.
www.yai.org - Youth in Motion's Top 20 Under 20 Program
Youth in Motion's mission is to empower young Canadians to live their best lives. The Top 20 Under 20 Program is a year-long youth leadership and development training program designed to identify outstanding young Canadian leaders, further develop their skills and aptitudes, and focus and fuel their passions. Equity Through Education will support this ethnically and culturally diverse group of tomorrow's leaders with bursary funding.
www.youth-in-motion.ca/www.top20under20.ca
About BMO Capital Markets
BMO Capital Markets is a leading full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,400 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 26 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$375 billion total assets and more than 37,000 employees as at July 31, 2008.
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