December 3, 2024 (Toronto, ON) – On this Giving Tuesday, in a critical time for many neighbourhoods across the GTA, where one in four people live in poverty, BMO is proud to announce a $1,050,000 transformational gift to United Way Greater Toronto as part of its ongoing commitment to support programs that offer essential services to communities across Peel, Toronto and York Region.
“At BMO, investing in the communities we serve is inspired by our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, and our commitment to making progress by eliminating barriers to inclusion,” said Sharon Haward-Laird, General Counsel and Executive Co-Chair of BMO’s 2024 Employee Giving Campaign. “We’re proud to partner with United Way Greater Toronto, an organization that shares our commitment to building a more inclusive society and that works to address root causes of poverty and to deliver essential support directly to the people and places where it is most needed.”
“United Way Greater Toronto is incredibly grateful for this generous gift that will help uplift communities and drive change,” said Nicole McVan, Vice President of Philanthropy and Marketing, United Way Greater Toronto. “Our long-standing partnership with BMO represents a shared vision for a more equitable community, where everyone can have the opportunity to thrive.”
This generous gift will support United Way’s Community Hubs which bring social services, healthcare, recreational spaces and government services together in one location. A “one-stop shop”, Hubs make it easy for neighbours in historically underserved communities to access after-school programs, social clubs, community kitchens, settlement support, employment programs and much more. Hubs also bring residents together to develop local solutions to the issues facing their neighbourhood, promoting civic engagement and a sense of belonging – a place where residents come together — for support, collaboration and resources.
Giving Tuesday, this year on December 3, also marks the kick-off of BMO’s 14th annual, industry-leading, Employee Giving Campaign. To launch the 2024 campaign, BMO employees in 18 communities across the United States and Canada will gather to pack care kits with essential items to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. In 2023, BMO’s support to local United Ways across North America impacted 5.5 million lives, delivered 2,200 programs, and supported over 40 neighborhoods.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to:
Meetu Madahar
Manager, Communications
United Way Greater Toronto
(416) 817-4668
mmadahar@uwgt.org
About United Way: As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net to support people living in poverty. United Way’s network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive. Mobilizing community support, United Way’s work is rooted in ground-breaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building a more equitable region and lasting solutions to the GTA’s greatest challenges.
BMO Gives. Good grows here: Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO’s Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2023, our social impact included more than $84 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent almost 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $31.2 million of donations through our annual employee giving program. For more information, please visit BMO.com