TORONTO and CHICAGO, Aug. 27,
2021 /PRNewswire/ - BMO Financial Group today announced it
is donating $500,000 to support
organizations responding to the needs of those affected by the
humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.
BMO's donation will be distributed among organizations that are
supporting refugee resettlement in North
America for Afghans that have fled the country, and local
on-the-ground humanitarian relief for the vulnerable people who
remain in Afghanistan, with a
critical focus on at-risk women and girls and LGBTQ+ Afghans. In
addition, the donation will support U.S. service members and
military bases and Canadian military members and
veterans.
American Red Cross: One of BMO's long-standing partners
in responding to humanitarian crises, the donation to the American
Red Cross will be used to help Afghan evacuees and members of the
U.S. military and veterans. The Red Cross is helping to care for
evacuees from Afghanistan who are
being sheltered at several military bases around the country. This
includes providing shelter, health and mental wellness services,
and relief supplies. It will also help evacuees reconnect with
family members through the Restoring Family Links program.
True Patriot Love Foundation: In Canada, True Patriot Love has established an
Afghan Resettlement Fund, which will be distributed nationally to
assist with legal costs, housing, language training, mental health
support, employment training and education of Afghan interpreters,
cultural advisors, locally employed people and their families who
were essential to Canada's mission
in Afghanistan. The fund will also
be used to provide support for the many Canadian veterans who
served alongside these brave people and are struggling with the
deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan.
UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Canada: UNHCR, as part of the broader UN
country team, will stay and deliver life-saving assistance for the
Afghan people. The donation will assist UNHCR and its partners to
support newly displaced Afghans with emergency shelter, food,
health, water and sanitation support and cash assistance.
United Service Organizations (USO): The USO strengthens
America's military service members by keeping them connected to
family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.
The USO is playing a significant role in supporting service members
in global operations. USO's work remains critical as they support
our service members by providing food, water, hygiene kits,
entertainment items, and other services. The USO continues to adapt
and deliver support to help address the emotional, mental, and
physical tolls that operations can take on service members and
their families.
"We at BMO recognize the heavy toll the situation in
Afghanistan is taking on Afghan
citizens, refugees and diasporas around the world. We also know
this is a particularly difficult moment for U.S. and Canadian
military members and veterans," said Erminia (Ernie) Johannson, Group Head, North
American Personal & Business Banking, BMO Financial Group. "We
support our partners – the American Red Cross, True Patriot Love,
UNHCR Canada and the United Service Organizations – as they work
tirelessly to provide humanitarian relief and support programs to
those affected. We will continue at BMO to do our part in promoting
an inclusive society and advocating for human rights for all."
Supporting the Defence Community
For more than a
decade, BMO has served as the Official Bank of the Canadian Defence
Community. BMO is driven to act by this relationship and it, along
with consultations with BMO's Veterans Advisory Committee
Council Enterprise Resource Group Chairs in Canada and the U.S. and other outside experts,
has informed a multi-pronged donation approach to ensure support
for those leaving Afghanistan and
those still within country.
BMO is proud to work with Canadian Defence Community, the
American Red Cross, True Patriot Love, UNHCR
Canada, the USO and its many other partners to act on
its Purpose-driven commitment to Boldly Grow the Good in
business and life.
BMO's Human Rights Commitment
BMO has made a
commitment – to our customers, employees, communities,
shareholders, and other stakeholders – to respect human rights
everywhere we do business. All individuals are entitled to human
rights – without discrimination – regardless of race, sexual
orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnicity, language,
religion, or any other status. Human rights include: the right to
life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of
opinion and expression, the right to education and employment, and
many more.
To learn more about BMO's statements on current issues,
including human rights, please visit:
https://our-impact.bmo.com/our-approach/statement-on-current-issues/
BMO will continue to evaluate how it can best provide support as
the situation unfolds, including assistance to military families
and refugees who may be temporarily or permanently resettled in its
markets in the U.S. and Canada.
Those wishing to support organizations supporting Afghan
refugees and citizens, can do so here: American Red Cross, True
Patriot Love, UNHCR Canada and the United Service
Organizations.
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200
years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services
provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America.
With total assets of $971 billion as of July 31,
2021, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO
provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth
management and investment banking products and services to more
than 12 million customers and conducts business through three
operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth
Management and BMO Capital Markets.
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SOURCE BMO Financial Group