Closer to the end of homelessness

BMO, TD contribute to Old Brewery Mission Foundation campaign

Two donations to the major fundraising campaign of the Old Brewery Mission Foundation, the See the End of Homelessness 20142020 campaign, have been announced in recent weeks.

The BMO Financial Group has made a donation of $500,000. And the TD Bank Group is contributing $600,000 for a housing program known as Le Pont TD.

The Old Brewery Mission Foundation raises funds to support the work of the Old Brewery Mission, the largest resource for Quebec’s homeless men and women. The hope is that, by 2020, the campaign will have raised $26 million from private sources.

The Old Brewery Mission, founded in 1889, helps the homeless get off the street with programs aimed at transition, adapted urban medical assistance, access to affordable housing, awareness raising and knowledge building.

It also provides essential emergency services to more than 4,000 homeless men and women in Montreal every year.

Following a $300,000 donation by the TD Bank Group to its capital campaign, Bishop’s University inaugurated the TD Terrace at its John H. Price Sports and Recreation Centre in June.

“This generous gift to our capital campaign will allow Bishop’s to provide a beautiful place for our faculty, staff, students and alumni to enjoy our sports centre and our teams playing on Coulter Field,” said Michael Goldbloom, principal and vice-chancellor of the Sherbrooke-based university.

The terrace will also be available for businesses and individuals to rent for special events.

Bishop’s has reached its goal of $2.5 million for the Sports and Wellness Centre Equipment pillar of its capital campaign. The undergraduate university, founded in 1843, has 2,300 full-time students.

For the third consecutive year, a socalled Moving Party Street Team assembled by 3M and led by comedian Phil Roy travelled around Montreal on the city’s quasi-official moving day, July 1, to offer support to those who needed it.

The street team, in 3M-branded cars, distributed products intended to make moving easier, including painter’s tape and scrub sponges.

Those moving were asked to use the hashtag #3MMovingParty to share photos of themselves moving on Twitter and Facebook.

For each hashtag shared, 3M donated $2 to Habitat for Humanity Quebec. The initiative raised $10,000.

Since 2014, 3M has raised $23,000 for Habitat for Humanity.

MAXIME PICARD/TD BANK GROUP From left: Michael Goldbloom, principal and vice-chancellor, Bishop’s University; Sylvie Demers, chair, Quebec market, TD Bank Group; Tim Griffin, Connor Clark and Lunn Private Capital, co-chair, Leading the Way Capital Campaign; Brian Levitt,...