News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 9, 2016) -

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More than 11,000 participants in more than 36 communities came together to raise more than $3 million, in support of Kids Help Phone's 15th annual Walk so Kids Can Talk, presented by BMO, on May 1, 2016.

The donations raised from the Walk are crucial to ensuring that Kids Help Phone is always open for kids - no matter where they are, what time it is or what issue they are dealing with.

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24/7 national support service for youth that offers free, bilingual, confidential and anonymous counselling and referrals. BMO has been a supporter of Kids Help Phone from its inception in 1989.

"To the 11,000 Canadians and 7,500 BMO employees who joined us this year in their respective neighbourhoods, we cannot thank you enough - your participation and donations are crucial to supporting this organization," said Gilles Ouellette, Wealth Management Group Head & National Walk Champion, BMO Financial Group. "We are hopeful the Walk will continue to grow each year, and are proud to be a continued partner to Kids Help Phone and all the work they do to support Canada's youth and their families."

"I would like to thank everyone who made a difference for kids by supporting the Walk this year - from our staff and volunteers, to our incredible presenting sponsor BMO, to other national sponsors and of course, everyone who walked, fundraised and collected donations. You are all heroes," said Sharon Wood, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "This event reaches communities coast to coast, getting better and better every year and this year, our 15^th, is no exception. We are on pace to break our all-time donations record - we're at $3.3 million and counting - and there's still time to help us reach our goal to support more young people in 2016 by making a donation today."

For those interested in making a contribution to Walk so Kids Can Talk, please visit www.walksokidscantalk.ca before May 31^st to donate, and join the social conversation using #KidsHelpPhoneWalk.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified financial services provider based in North America. With total assets of $699 billion as of January 31, 2016, and close to 47,000 employees, BMO provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

About Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is charity that provides counselling and referrals as the only national helpline for young people. Since 1989, it has offered kids and teens hope and support through its confidential and anonymous service. As an organization that speaks with young people every day, Kids Help Phone works to share their perspectives and improve their well-being on a societal level. Kids Help Phone raises the majority of its revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community fundraising.

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