Since late November, close to 90% of BMO employees have donated more than $22 million to the United Way and organizations focused on education, health, food security, animals, legal aid and LGBTQ2+ causes as part of BMO’s 10th annual Employee Giving Campaign.

With gifts still being collected, the donations are geared to address the disproportionate impacts in health and economic outcomes exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the chronic imbalances that impede prosperity and well-being, especially for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. The employee donations are in addition to the $66 million in corporate donations from BMO in 2020.

“As a purpose-driven company, we are grateful for the opportunity to respond to the unprecedented need in our communities, intensified by COVID-19,” Joanna Rotenberg, group head of BMO Wealth Management and 2020 major individual giving cabinet chair for the United Way of Greater Toronto, said. “The disparity between those who are thriving and those who are struggling as a result of systemic barriers is more apparent than ever, and finding ways to curb the impacts of the pandemic on health, gender and racial equality and economic prosperity has galvanized our employees to give back now.”

With an ongoing commitment to foster a more just society with zero barriers to inclusion, BMO’s employees have embraced a focus on vulnerable communities where existing challenges are more severe. Contributions are also helping to fuel an inclusive recovery that addresses structural inequities for BIPOC communities that BMO has been confronting in its longstanding partnership with the United Way and other organizations.

Throughout the last 10 years of the employee-driven campaign, BMO has raised almost $190 million and was recently recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures by Waterstone Human Capital.