Homes For Heroes Foundation Receives Multi Year Commitment From BMO
23 Abril 2024 - 12:52PM
Homes For Heroes Foundation today announced a $1.5
million donation from BMO – a long-time supporter of the Canadian
Armed Forces and Canadian Veterans. Representatives from both
organisations were on hand at The Royal Canadian Military Institute
to make the announcement.
“We are thrilled to begin a partnership with BMO in support of
our charity’s mission to end the issue of Veteran homelessness. BMO
is a global company with a proven commitment to our military
community and today’s announcement will go a long way in helping us
achieve our mission,” noted Brad Field, President and CEO of Homes
For Heroes Foundation.
“As the Official Bank of the Canadian Defence Community, BMO is
proud to partner with the Homes for Heroes Foundation and help
accelerate the Foundation’s National Veterans’ Village Program,”
said Gayle Ramsay, Head, Everyday Banking, Segment & Customer
Growth, BMO. “This partnership is inspired by our Purpose, to
Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, and supports our
commitment to a more inclusive society by expanding the social
services and housing that help veterans successfully transition
back to civilian life.”
“Veterans Affairs Canada has proudly supported the
Homes For Heroes Foundation through the Veterans and Family
Well-Being Fund, with over $1.7 million in support since 2019. This
support helps Homes For Heroes’ Veterans’
Villages to deliver tailored and personalized services to
Veterans, all while providing them with a safe and affordable place
to call home,” said the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor,
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National
Defence. “Working with our partners is one of the ways we can
ensure the physical, mental, and economic well-being of Veterans
and their families. BMO’s commitment today shows that, through
strong partnerships and collaboration, we can make a significant
difference for Veterans and their families across the country.”
Homes For Heroes Foundation has Veteran villages in Calgary,
Edmonton, and Kingston. Their fourth Veterans’ village is scheduled
to be built in Winnipeg in the community of Transcona. “Our typical
Veterans’ village has 20 tiny homes, a resource center, social
worker offices, recreation space and community gardens. I believe
the key to our success is providing the necessary social support
services required for our unhoused Veterans to move on from the
village towards employment and more permanent housing,” noted Mr.
Field.
The association between BMO and the soldiers who have defended
this country both in times of peace and war has been a long and
historic one. During the Second World War, BMO established
temporary branches to pay troops at various encampments throughout
Canada and abroad. Overseas, Canadian military personnel were paid
through its Waterloo Place office in London, England. Additionally,
The Bank’s president George Spinney took a leave of absence and
headed the National War Finance Committee, which oversaw the sales
of Victory Loan bonds.
As in the Great War, almost 1,500 of the bank’s staff served in
the Canadian Forces, with 84 giving their life in service to this
country in the Second World War.
Every tiny home in a H4HF Village is named after a Veteran of
the Canadian Armed Forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice in
service to Canada. Among the 20 tiny homes in the Kingston Village
is one dedicated to Corporal George Taylor, who was born and raised
in Kingston. Taylor was on the staff of BMO when he enlisted for
service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in October 1914. He
was one of 1414 BMO employees that volunteered for service during
the First World War. Sadly, he was also one of 230 BMO employees
killed in action during that conflict. H4HF is proud to recognize
his sacrifice by naming a home in his honour.
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.
https://homesforheroesfoundation.ca/
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b340d3d8-e0f8-4f0e-bdd5-c5bd809b1ffa
Media Contacts:
Brad Field
President and CEO
Homes For Heroes Foundation
(403) 888-2019
brad@h4hf.ca
Kate Simandl
BMO Media Relations
BMO
(416) 867-3996
Kate.Simandl@bmo.com