RBC awards close to $350,000 to 14 after-school programs in Quebec

MONTREAL, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Over 500 children in Quebec will receive additional support for staying in school. RBC has awarded close to $350,000 to 14 organizations that offer after-school programs.

"In over 13 years, RBC has awarded almost $4 million to after-school programs in Québec," notes Martin Thibodeau, President, Quebec Headquarters, RBC Royal Bank. "We want to encourage children between the ages of 6 and 17 to have positive self-esteem and to stay in school," he explained.

Most of the beneficiaries of RBC's After-School Grants Project are located in Greater Montreal as well as in Quebec City, Longueuil and Gatineau. Each organization can receive an annual grant of up to $40,000.  The 14 programs RBC currently supports are: Atelier 850, Dawson Community Centre, Centre communautaire Hochelaga, Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre, Boys and Girls Club of LaSalle, Maison d'accueil Mutchmore, Maison de jeunes Kekpart, Maison des jeunes par la Grand'porte, Maison Tremplin, Oasis des enfants de Rosemont, Patro Laval, Projet Harmonie, Saint-Columba House and Toujours Ensemble.

Each year organizations working in this area are invited to present their grant application. They can apply up to March 15, 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year at the following address:  http://www.rbc.com/community-sustainability

ABOUT RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on the TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the brand name of RBC. We are Canada's largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization, and among the largest banks in the world, based on market capitalization. We are one of North America's leading diversified financial services companies, and provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, investor services and wholesale banking on a global basis. We employ approximately 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries. For more information, visit www.rbc.com.

RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide (more than $64 million in donations and $31 million in sponsorships).

Image with caption: "Martin Thibodeau, President, Quebec Headquarters, RBC Royal Bank (centre) and Estelle Lapointe, Coordinator, RBC After-School Grants Project (7th from the left) are joined by representatives of the 14 after-school programs supported during the current school year. (CNW Group/RBC ROYAL BANK)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130228_C9086_PHOTO_EN_24123.jpg

SOURCE: RBC ROYAL BANK

For further information:

Raymond Chouinard, Media Relations, RBC, 514-874-6556,
[e-mail]