News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 7, 2014) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this press release.

On Sunday, May 4, thousands of BMO employees, family and friends walked in more than 25 communities across Canada in support of Kids Help Phone's Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO. The Walk is Canada's largest walk supporting young people's well-being. To date, BMO employees have raised more than $1 million, and counting, for Kids Help Phone through the Walk.

"Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Walk - whether as a walker or through a donation or both. We're grateful for the generosity of our employees and their family and friends for their involvement and support," said Andrew Auerbach, Senior Vice-President, Greater Toronto Division, Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Financial Group. "As a partner of Kids Help Phone for 25 years and as the presenting sponsor of the Walk, we are proud to be part of a positive, fun and family-oriented event that helps kids be the best they can be."

Funds raised from the Walk will go towards ensuring that Kids Help Phone's professional counsellors continue to be there by phone and online any time, day or night, 365 days a year, to help children and youth deal with concerns large or small.

Those who are interested in making a contribution to this year's Walk can do so until May 31 and are asked to visit http://www.walksokidscantalk.ca/.

About BMO Financial Group

For more than 195 years, BMO Financial Group has believed in community reinvestment and corporate and social responsibility in the communities it serves. In 2013, BMO Financial Group allocated $56 million to registered charities, not-for-profit and community-based organizations and institutions in Canada and the United States

About Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is a Canadian and world leader, known for its expertise in providing vital, innovative counselling services to children and youth in communities across Canada. Since 1989 it has offered children, teens and young adults a critical lifeline of hope and support, through its free, anonymous and confidential service. Kids Help Phone's professional counsellors support the mental health and well-being of young people ages five to 20, in urban, rural, and remote communities, by providing one-on-one counselling, information and resources online and by phone, in English and French. Kids Help Phone's internationally recognized, award-winning websites offer online counseling forums and engaging, therapeutic games, tools and information to encourage resilience and self-care. A community-based national charity, Kids Help Phone relies on community and corporate support for the majority of its funding. We're there for the 6.5* million young people in Canada, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in English and in French.

*Source: represents the age group Kids Help Phone serves (from 5 to 20) according to Statistics Canada 2012.

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20140507-WalksoKidsCanTalk800.jpg.