In 2006, BMO Financial Group contributed $40.8 million in corporate donations, sponsorships and events, supporting communities, charities and not-for-profit organizations in Canada and the United States.
Employee Giving
Through BMO Fountain of Hope®, a national charitable foundation managed by BMO Financial Group employees, our employees raised a record $8 million in 2006. Many of our people also actively supported local community organizations. For instance, hundreds of Harris employees in Chicago participated in the 2006 March of Dimes WalkAmerica event, raising more than US$100,000.
BMO has a long-standing tradition of actively supporting the communities where we do business and where our employees live and work. We believe that by helping our regions, towns and neighbourhoods be vital, healthy and strong, we best serve our company – and society.
Focus on Learning
In 2006, we maintained BMO’s focus on support for learning, particularly at the post-secondary level. We committed $2.9 million in new funding over the next 10 years to 10 colleges and universities across Canada. We announced a $1.25 million pledge to York University’s Glendon College to establish the BMO Financial Group Conference Centre and fund development of public affairs programming. BMO also announced a total of $2.4 million in capital campaign support to Acadia University, and Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia, University of Sherbrooke and University of Quebec at Montreal, and the University of Lethbridge in Alberta.
Supporting Health
We also maintained our commitment to supporting health organizations across Canada. In 2006, this included $2 million pledged over the next five years to establish the BMO Financial Group Chair in Cardiology at The Hospital for Sick Children (HSC) in Toronto. HSC is considered one of the top children’s hospitals in the world and treats children with serious injuries and the most complex childhood diseases.We also committed $2 million as part of our ongoing support of the Inner City Health Research Unit at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital.
Awards for the Arts
BMO was honoured to be a recipient of a 2006 Globe and Mail Business for the Arts Award, which recognizes “outstanding partnerships between business and the arts.” Our contribution to the arts and culture in 2006 included our sponsorship of the Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre. The $100,000 prize – the largest in Canadian theatre – was won by Toronto set and costume designer Dany Lyne. We also made a gift of $1 million to the Canadian Opera Company (COC) to present the inaugural celebrations at the COC’s magnificent new home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Partners in Sport
In the belief that sports and athletics promote well-being and build life skills, BMO continues to support Skate Canada®2 and Spruce Meadows®3, Canada’s premier equestrian facility. We also announced a new sports partnership, acquiring the naming rights for the new soccer stadium being built in Toronto. Scheduled to open in the spring of 2007, the 20,000-seat BMO Field™ will provide a home to Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and Canada’s national soccer teams.
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