Making a splash to help protect the world's water
RBC Blue Water Project donates $4.1 million to 31 organizations
around the world
TORONTO, August 11, 2009 — RBC today announced
its latest round of RBC Blue Water Project Leadership Grant
recipients. Thirty-one organizations, selected out of 159
applicants from around the world, have become RBC
Blue Water Project Members, and will share more than $4,194,000
million in grants for programs that help protect watersheds
and improve access to clean drinking water. Recipients will
deliver programs in Canada, the United States and the British
Isles.
"Once again, we were pleased by the quality of grant
applications in this second year of the RBC Blue Water Project,"
said Gordon M. Nixon, president and CEO, RBC. "It's gratifying
to see that there's such a vital network of organizations
who share our concern for water and that so many people are
doing critical, on-the-ground work protecting fresh water
resources worldwide."
"It was a daunting exercise to evaluate and choose from
the 159 applications," said Rob de Loë, professor
and University Research Chair in Water Policy and Governance,
University of Waterloo, and chair of the RBC Blue Water Project
Advisory Panel. "We were looking for innovative, collaborative
programs that would provide a significant, measurable environmental
and social impact. I'm confident that the 31 finalists represent
a strong-cross section of local, regional and national programs
that will result in better protection for watersheds and improved
access to clean drinking water."
The RBC Blue Water Project is intended help foster a culture
of water stewardship in Canada and abroad and includes a 10-year,
$50 million philanthropic commitment to programs supporting
watershed protection and access to clean drinking water. Since
2007, RBC has committed more than $20.48 million in single
and multi-year grants to 155 organizations, including the
31 announced today.
RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and
environmental leaders and is included on the Dow Jones World
and North American Sustainability Indices, the Jantzi Social
Index, the FTSE4Good Index and the Global 100 Most Sustainable
Corporations ranking. RBC is among 67 companies and one of
only 18 financial institutions worldwide named to the 2008
Global Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. RBC contributed
$99 million to community causes worldwide in 2008, through
donations of more than $51.5 million, and an additional $47.5
million in sponsorship of community events.
Applications for the 2010 RBC Blue Water Project Leadership
Grants are due in March 2010. Applications for Community Action
Grants are accepted year-round. For more information on the
RBC Blue Water Project, as well as grant guidelines and application
forms, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.
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Media contact:
Matthew Gierasimczuk, RBC Media Relations, (416) 974-2124
For a full list of recipients go to: www.rbc.com/newsroom/pdf/2009BWP-Grant-recipients.pdf
Note: Financial references in Canadian dollars unless
otherwise indicated.
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