RBC announces first wave of 2010 RBC Blue Water Project
Leadership Grant recipients
Blue Water Day kicks off with $2 million to 22 organizations
TORONTO, June 10, 2010— RBC today announced
the first wave of its 2010 RBC Blue Water Project Leadership
Grant recipients. Twenty-two organizations, selected from
161 applicants from around the world, will share more than
$2 million in grants for programs that help protect watersheds
and improve access to clean drinking water. RBC will announce
additional grants in the next few weeks.
"Water is one of the world's most precious natural
resources, and we are truly impressed by how passionately
these organizations care about protecting and preserving water,"
said Gordon M. Nixon, president and CEO, RBC. "Their
work is critical to the protection of our continent's valuable
water resources, and we are proud to support them in their
efforts."
RBC's funding will support a range of projects from wetland
and shoreline restoration to water quality monitoring and
sharing of sustainable water management practices in agricultural
regions.
"This year, we noticed a significant change in the focus
of projects for which organizations were requesting funds,"
said Rob de Loë, professor and University Research Chair
in Water Policy and Governance, University of Waterloo, and
chair of the RBC Blue Water Project Advisory Panel. "In
the first two years, a majority of the programs we funded
were dedicated to public education and awareness. This year,
we saw an increased number of strong applications for on-the-ground
projects that will restore and reclaim riparian zones such
as the shorelines of rivers, streams and lakes. I'm confident
that our 22 finalists will make a demonstrable difference
in the health of their local watersheds."
Tomorrow, RBC celebrates its first ever 'RBC Blue Water Day':
a series of events and activities in communities and 1,200
branches across Canada to celebrate the work of some of the
200 RBC Blue Water Project grant recipients. Approximately
77,000 employees in 54 countries will also mark the day by
wearing blue to raise awareness about the value and vulnerability
of our water resources.
RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and
environmental leaders and is listed on the 2009-2010 Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index and the DJSI North American Index.
RBC has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one
of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most
Socially Responsible Corporations and one of the Best Workplaces
in Canada. In 2009, RBC contributed more than $105 million
to community causes worldwide, through donations of more than
$52.6 million, and an additional $52.5 million in sponsorship
of community events and national organizations.
The RBC Blue Water Project is a 10-year, $50 million philanthropic
commitment to supporting organizations that protect watersheds
and ensure access to clean drinking water in Canada and abroad.
Since 2007, RBC has committed more than $24 million in single
and multi-year grants to 285 organizations, including the
22 announced today and $1.4 million recently announced to
the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canadian Geographic
Society.
Applications for the 2011 RBC Blue Water Project Leadership
Grants are due in March 2011. Applications for Community Action
Grants are accepted year-round. For more information on the
RBC Blue Water Project, as well as grant guidelines and application
forms, visit www.rbc.com/bluewater.
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Media contact:
Jackie Braden,
Sponsorship Communications, (416) 974-1724, jackie.braden@rbc.com
For a full list of recipients go to: www.rbc.com/newsroom/pdf/2010BWP-Grant-recipients.pdf
Note: Financial references in Canadian dollars unless otherwise
indicated.
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