RBC and Free The Children inspire local youth to take action
Support includes funding of $300,000 for water education in Canada and overseas
TORONTO, ON (September 3, 2009) — RBC today
announced that it would throw its support behind programs
offered by Free The Children, a Canadian-based children's
charity founded by Craig Kielburger in 1995. With the assistance
of RBC, Free The Children will be able to continue developing
important initiatives and programs to help educate children
around the world.
RBC will support the following programs:
H2O for You - In August, RBC announced a $300,000
RBC Blue Water Grant to support Free the Children's water
education programming in Canada and abroad. The H20 for You
educational speaking tour will cross Canada to inform youth
about the global water crisis, give them the tools to take
action on local water issues and demonstrate how to fundraise
for international water initiatives. The Blue Water Grant
also supports community education programs in India and China.
Adopt a Village campaign - This Free The Children
program is designed to help remove barriers that prevent children
from accessing education and break the cycle of poverty. RBC
will help support Free the Children's international work in
the areas of education, health care, clean water and alternative
income programs for marginalized children and their families
in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
We Day, Toronto - RBC has come on as a special partner
for Free The Children's largest youth empowerment event taking
place October 5 at the Air Canada Centre.
GO Local - RBC recently served as the title sponsor
for an event that provided the seed funding for the GO Local
Program. This program offers resource-poor schools the tools
to create change in their own communities and eliminate the
barriers to a safe and successful learning environment. Funds
raised through various events will directly impact schools
in Toronto and Vancouver that have been targeted as in need
of greater social assistance.
"I want to express my sincere gratitude to our friends
at RBC for their generosity and applaud them for making such
a profound difference in the lives of children in need,"
said Marc Kielburger, Co-Founder, Free The Children. "Support
from outside organizations allows us to continue doing the
good work at home and abroad - for this we say thank you."
"We are so pleased to stand behind an organization that
empowers youth to be a catalyst for social change," said
Jennifer Tory, Regional President, Greater Toronto Region,
RBC. "RBC is encouraged by the possibilities of this
partnership and how it will help children locally — and around
the world — realize their potential."
RBC's support for Free The Children is part of a long history
of funding programs that positively affect children. From
providing funding to organizations that directly serve children
through its RBC After School Grants program, to the RBC Children's
Mental Health Project, RBC is proud to support children and
youth-oriented organizations that seek to make a difference
in their communities and inspire others.
About Free The Children
Free The Children is the world's largest network of children
helping children through education, with more than one million
youth involved in our innovative education and development
programs in 45 countries. Founded in 1995 by international
child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children
has a proven track record of success. The organization has
received the World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the
Child (also known as the Children's Nobel Prize), the Human
Rights Award from the World Association of Non-Governmental
Organizations, and has formed successful partnerships with
leading school boards and international organizations.
About RBC
RBC believes in building prosperity by contributing to the
communities in which we live and work. As one of Canada's
largest corporate donors, RBC supports a broad range of community
initiatives, through donations, sponsorships and employee
volunteer activities. 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.
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For more information or to speak with someone directly,
please contact:
Jackie Braden
RBC
416-974-1724
Jackie.braden@rbc.com
Lindsey Coulter, Director of PR & Publicity
Free The Children
647-259-3469
Lindsey@freethechildren.com
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