Lethbridge Herald

Canadian Western Bank helping YWCAs across Canada

- Amanda Michalezki LETHBRIDGE HERALD

The Canadian Western Bank will be helping more girls get access to critical programs that will help them build skills and gain the confidence needed to create and achieve their life goals.

Nine YWCAs across the country will share a significan­t monetary gift from CWB that will help support girl empowermen­t programs. The YWCA offers programs focused on empowering girls aged 1024.

The CWB gifted $100,000 last week for these programs that vary from structured courses to drop-in groups and conference­s. The issues addressed in these programs are personal safety, economic security, mental health and the well-being of girls. Through these programs, they will learn life skills that will give them the opportunit­y to live healthy, productive lives.

Amber Niemeier, director of communicat­ions and advocacy for YWCA Edmonton, said such a contributi­on from the CWB means the world to the YWCA and the girls they serve.

“These programs are entirely reliant on donors, so if we don’t raise the money, we can’t offer those programs,” said Niemeier. “This type of support from the Canadian Western Bank allows us to provide those programs that are so critical for young girls at a very pivotal moment in their lives.”

Over $230 million is invested annually to support 33,000 women and girls in 300 communitie­s across Canada.

The initiative came from CWB’s desire to empower young women and support these programs in a meaningful way.

Stephen Murphy, executive vice-president banking at CWB, said in a press release CWB recognizes that diversity and inclusion are essential for strong communitie­s and a prosperous economy. He adds CWB is proud to proactivel­y ensure girls in our communitie­s have ample opportunit­ies to build the skills and confidence they need to create and achieve their life goals.

The YWCA is a multi-service organizati­on and is the country’s oldest and largest organizati­on that helps create change for one million women, girls and their families.

Follow @AmandaMicH­erald on Twitter

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