News Releases

TORONTO, April 23, 2010 - BMO Employee Charitable Foundation recently hosted a Celebration of Giving, to distribute $5.6 million to 47 Greater Toronto Area charitable organizations, a record amount for this annual event.

BMO Financial Group employees and representatives from various supported charitable groups gathered at First Canadian Place in Toronto to celebrate the culmination of a year of employee-driven fundraising efforts by the Foundation.

• $5.6 million was presented to United Way Toronto and 46 other GTA charities who attended this event. These donations are a culmination of Campaign 2009 donations and early disbursements from Campaign 2010.
• BMO employees from across Canada raised more than $8.7 million in Campaign 2009, in addition to the $55 million that BMO Financial Group contributed in corporate donations, sponsorships and events in Canada last year.

100 per cent of donations provided through the Foundation are disbursed to charities across Canada, as BMO Financial Group covers all administrative costs.

"The Celebration of Giving recognizes the tremendous work of these charities and the unwavering support of BMO employees," said Alex Dousmanis-Curtis, Senior-Vice President, GTA, BMO Financial Group.

"BMO and its employees invest in the well being of the neighbourhoods, towns and regions we serve, because we are a part of them," continued Ms. Dousmanis-Curtis. "Our commitment to helping meet the needs of the many organizations and groups that make our communities strong is driven by the people who work here. It's something we approach the same way we do every other part of our business: with a full-time commitment."

"We are thrilled that BMO employees have once again joined together to support the Foundation's fundraising campaign," said David Montgomery, Ontario Allocation Chair of BMO Employee Charitable Foundation. "Last year's results have been a tremendous achievement and we are looking forward to increasing our charitable support in our upcoming 2011 campaign.

"Once again, BMO Financial Group employees have demonstrated their giving spirit as they strive to improve people's lives," said Julia Gorman, Vice-President, Resource Development, United Way Toronto - recipients of $3.4 million from BMO employees in 2010. "At United Way, we share the belief that together we can build a stronger community for all, and our partnership with BMO Financial Group enables us to create opportunities for a better life for everyone. During this time of economic uncertainty for thousands of people, the Celebration of Giving is a fine example of how together, we can put our shared aspirations to work to strengthen our communities."

Listed below are the recipient organizations of this donation:

About Face International - Toronto

AIDS Committee

Allergy / Asthma Information Association

Alzheimer Society - Ontario Division

Boys and Girls Club - St. Alban's Toronto

Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Chapter

Canadian Cancer Society

Canadian Diabetes Association

Canadian Women's Foundation

Children's Aid Foundation

Children's Wish Foundation

Covenant House - Toronto

Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada 

Daily Bread Food Bank - Toronto

Focus Humanitarian Assistance of Canada - Toronto

Geneva Centre for Autism - Toronto

Habitat for Humanity - Toronto

Heart and Stroke Foundation - Toronto & GTA Division

Hospital for Sick Children Foundation 

Junior Achievement - Metro Toronto

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Kids Help Foundation (Kids Help Phone) 

Macaulay Child Development Centre - Toronto

Mon Sheong Foundation - Chinese Home for Aged - Toronto

Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation 

Multiple Sclerosis Society - Ontario

Nellie's

North York General Hospital Foundation

Oakville Hospital Foundation

Parkinson Society Canada - National

Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation

Project CANOE

REACH for the Rainbow

Red Door Shelter

Salvation Army 

Second Harvest Food Support Committee

Sharelife

St. Michael's Hospital Foundation 

Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation - Ontario

Stephen Lewis Foundation

Storefront Foundation - Toronto

Sunnybrook Foundation - Toronto

Trillium Health Centre Foundation

United Way Toronto

Variety Village 

Yonge Street Mission

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 2000, the Foundation has raised over $75 million for more than 3,000 charities across the country through the efforts and generosity of BMO Financial Group employees and customers.