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RBC announces 2008 Blue Water Project Community Action Grant
pool of $200,000Grants will support watershed protection projects at local level
TORONTO, June 2, 2008 — RBC today announced
the third and final component of its Blue Water Project grants
pool for 2008.
Community Action Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each,
up to a total of $200,000 for 2008, are available to support
local and community projects in Canada, the United States
and the Caribbean that are dedicated to watershed protection.
Grant proposals will be accepted year long, with applications
available online at www.rbc.com/bluewater.
The overall Blue Water Project grant strategy and guidelines
were developed in collaboration with an advisory panel of
North American water experts. The panel determined that Community
Action Grants should focus on watershed protection because
local water resources are best protected by effective watershed
management. Problems that occur in one part of a watershed-like
pollution, over-consumption, degraded habitat or mismanagement-
affect people, agriculture, industry and natural habitats
elsewhere.
"When it comes to water, problems often are local, and
we're all upstream or downstream for someone or something
else," said Rob de Loë, professor, Canada Research
Chair in Water Management, University of Guelph, and chair
of the RBC Blue Water Project Advisory Panel. "Industry,
government, business and individuals can all play a part in
watershed protection by preventing pollution, reducing consumption,
using water more efficiently in agriculture and manufacturing,
and protecting biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems."
"The better our watersheds are managed, the more likely
we are to have a sustainable and safe water supply,"
said Gordon M. Nixon, president and CEO, RBC. "We are
looking forward to helping community organizations contribute
to a culture of water stewardship, and we hope that the programs
funded through our grants will make a real difference in both
action and understanding when it comes to valuing watersheds
at the local level."
The RBC Blue Water Project is a wide-ranging, multi-year
program to help foster a culture of water stewardship in Canada
and abroad, so that people have clean fresh water today and
tomorrow. The first phase of the RBC Blue Water Project, announced
in late 2007, is a 10-year, $50 million grant program, comprising
three streams: Visionary, Leadership and Community Action
Grants. The first Visionary Grant was a $10 million commitment
to the ONE DROP Foundation, established by Cirque du Soleil
founder, Guy Laliberté.
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries
operate under the master brand name of RBC. It is Canada's
largest bank as measured by assets and market capitalization
and one of North America's leading diversified financial services
companies. RBC employs approximately 70,000 full- and part-time
employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business,
public sector and institutional clients throughout offices
in Canada, the U.S. and 36 other countries. In 2007, the company
released the RBC Environmental Blueprint, outlining its environmental
priorities and objectives. In 2007, RBC was named Canada's
top corporate citizen, and in 2008, was named one of top 100
sustainable companies in the world.
For more information on the RBC Blue Water Project, as well
as guidelines and applications for Community Action Grants,
visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.
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Media contact:
Jackie Braden, (416) 974-2124
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