RBC invests more than $260,000 in Southern Alberta communities

CALGARY, Dec. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - As the effects of the global financial crisis have yet to stabilize, many charities are continuing to face serious reductions in their funding bases from all sectors. At the same time, the demand for their services has grown. Charitable organizations have to look for new sources of funding and companies are wrestling with the question of how to allocate and stretch their dollars.

RBC has designed our community investment strategy so that we can respond to urgent and ongoing requests through our general donation budgets and continue to have a significant social impact by funding specific projects within our eight strategic focus areas: health and wellness, education, environment, arts and culture, amateur sports, social services and civic causes, employee contributions and diversity.

In 2012, RBC, through its charitable foundation, donated $260,000 to charities in southern Alberta. Donations ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 were given to non-profit organizations to support sustainable community programs.

"We believe in the power of communities and the individuals who live in them. That's why we invest in organizations in southern Alberta that are working to enhance the quality of life in the region," said Mark Brown, regional vice-president for RBC's southern Alberta market. "We support worthy causes because we want our investments to make a real difference in people's lives."

In 2012, RBC contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide through donations and community investments of more than $64 million, and $31 million in sponsorship of community events and national organizations.

Organizations interested in applying for funding from RBC are encouraged to visit our website at http://www.rbc.com/community-sustainability

The following are some of the organizations that received funding in 2012:

Lethbridge

• Family Centre Society of Southern Alberta
• Lethbridge Community College Foundation
• Lethbridge Symphony Association
• Southern Alberta Art Gallery Association
• United Way, Lethbridge
• YWCA of Lethbridge & District

Medicine Hat

• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
• Habitat for Humanity
• Medicine Hat & District Health Foundation
• Medicine Hat College
• United Way, Medicine Hat

Alberta South

• Trout Unlimited: Drywood Creek Watershed Renewal Program

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. 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. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2012 - 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations and one of the Best Workplaces in Canada.:

SOURCE: RBC Calgary

For further information:

Kari Peperkorn-Marlowe
Advisor, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
O: [phone] C: [phone]
[e-mail]