Bank of Montreal 2008 Annual Report Download - page 27

Harris: A Long History of Community Involvement
In the United States, Harris continued to build on our long history of involvement with our
communities. In 2008, Harris made a US$200,000 multi-year contribution to the Chicago
Urban League (CUL). Founded in 1916, the CUL works for economic, educational and social
progress for African Americans. Harris’ contribution will support the League’s Entrepreneurship
Center, and its mandate to strengthen and increase the number of businesses owned by
African Americans. In addition, Harris committed US$1 million to support the city of Chicago’s
bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. In June, the city was named one of four finalists
for the Games. Harris and BMO Capital Markets continued a long relationship with the
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago in 2008, contributing US$1.7 million in partnership
with our employees.
Harris and BMO Capital Markets employees are also engaged in their communities. When Harris
held the second Annual Volunteer Day last June, more than 750 employees took to the streets
across the United States to help make a difference for over 30 community organizations.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Health: Supporting the Most Vulnerable
BMO announced substantial contributions
to health care organizations in 2008. In many
instances, we directed our support toward
society’s most vulnerable. In Toronto, we
made a $2 million donation to establish the
BMO Financial Group Chair in Cardiology
at The Hospital for Sick Children, which will
support research and contribute to the
understanding of congenital heart disease.
In Vancouver, we donated $2 million to
the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation to
support the construction of a new children’s
hospital. We also donated $60,000 to help
expand the John McGivney Children’s
Centre in Windsor, Ontario, which provides
rehabilitative services to children and
youth with disabilities and special needs.
Over the past year, we committed $2 million
to create the BMO Vulnerable Populations
Unit within the Centre for Research on Inner
City Health at St. Michael’s Hospital in
Toronto. We also committed $2 million to
the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation’s
Heart Beat for the Future campaign.
Arts and Culture: Enriching Our Lives
For many years, BMO has championed
arts and culture. In 2008, we announced
a new three-year partnership with the Art
Gallery of Ontario (AGO). BMO was the lead
inaugural partner at the grand reopening
of the AGO, which has been transformed
by celebrated architect Frank Gehry. We
also became the AGO’s signature partner
for the Canadian Collection Program.
BMO Employees: A Tradition of Giving
For more than 30 years, BMO employees have been part of a proud tradition –giving
their time, money and talent to support United Way and Centraide chapters, as well
as thousands of national and local charities and those in need in communities across
Canada. In 2008, through the national BMO Employee Charitable Foundation, our
people raised an astonishing $8.7 million. We are proud to support our employees’
and pensioners’ contributions by covering 100% of the administrative costs of
BMO Employee Charitable Foundation.
BMO also corporately supports the generosity of our people through our Matching
Gift Program for Higher Education, which provides matching funding for donations
to eligible institutions of higher learning, and our Volunteer Grants Program,
which provides funds to organizations where our employees and pensioners are
active volunteers.
BMO Financial Group 191st Annual Report 2008 | 23
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