Many Hands Make Lighter Work: More Than 4,600 BMO Employees Unite Across North America for BMO Volunteer Day 2017

TORONTO and CHICAGO, June 20, 2017 /CNW/ - Last week, thousands of BMO employees helped local charities and organizations with more than 340 volunteer projects in communities across Canada and the U.S. for BMO Volunteer Day.

Launched in 2001, BMO Volunteer Day is when, each year during business hours, BMO employees devote their time, passion and energy to strengthen the lives of people in the communities where they live and work.

This year, employees contributed a collective 14,300 hours in support of children and youth organizations, elder care, food banks, health care facilities, family resource centres, parks and recreational facilities, homeless shelters and community housing and relief organizations.

"Giving back is at the centre of our culture and reinforces what we've promised for nearly 200 years – we're here to help," said Cameron Fowler, Group Head, Canadian Personal & Commercial Banking, BMO Financial Group. "I am inspired by the work we do on Volunteer Day and am proud of the lasting impact our teams have in the communities we serve."

"Giving back to the communities we serve is a key element of our corporate culture, and has been for 200 years," said David Casper, President and CEO, BMO Harris Bank.  "BMO Volunteer Day is a very proud tradition for us, and my colleagues and I celebrated it this year with enthusiasm and very active participation. We're already looking forward to BMO Volunteer Day 2018!"

BMO Volunteer Day projects included:

• BMO employees in three major cities across North America volunteered in teams of 200 to mark the bank's bicentennial. They partnered with United Way Toronto & York Region, Centraide of Greater Montreal and the American Red Cross to bring to life a Community Wish Day, an urban agricultural project and 4,000 Red Cross Comfort Kits.
• In Chicago, 53 BMO volunteers worked with the Anixter Center to help individuals with disabilities take part in engaging events, including games, art and activities.
• In Milwaukee, to commemorate Flag Day, BMO Harris employees volunteered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee to help kids create a Flag Art project to represent their community in a parade led by the Milwaukee Bucks' mascot.
• In the Greater Toronto Area, more than 139 BMO employees participated in 14 volunteer projects to provide career coaching, mentoring, mock interview and resume writing workshops and skills development for marginalized members of the community, newcomers and those facing barriers.
• In Toronto, 49 BMO employees volunteered with the SickKids Foundation, which saw them assemble individual Craft Kits for patients, help to create handmade Father's Day cards, and accompany patients and their families to story time with the Hospital's therapeutic clown.
• In B.C., BMO employees collaborated on 6 projects to address hunger and food access issues in the province. More than 60 employees provided assistance to local food banks.
• Across Canada, BMO employees engaged in 11 environmentally focused projects to support sustainable agriculture.
• For those unable to leave their desks, BMO staff volunteered remotely via telephone to provide career counselling and advice to youth.

About BMO Financial Group
Since its founding in 1817, BMO Financial Group has followed a principle of corporate and social responsibility and of reinvesting in the communities it serves. In addition to the generous support from BMO employees, charitable, not-for-profit and community-based institutions and organizations received more than C$57.3 million in donations from BMO in 2016, which has helped to build and sustain resilient, vital and healthy communities across North America.

Web: www.bmo.com  Twitter: @BMOmedia

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

Media Contacts: Madeline Mann, Toronto, [email protected], [phone]; Patrick O'Herlihy, Chicago, [email protected], [phone]; Valerie Doucet, Montreal, [email protected], [phone]