RBC donates $300,000 to the Martin Aboriginal Education
Initiative to expand its Entrepreneurship Program
TORONTO, December 13, 2010 — RBC today announced
it has committed $300,000 to the Martin Aboriginal Education
Initiative (MAEI) to support the expansion of its Aboriginal
Youth Entrepreneurship program and encourage youth to stay
in school.
According to the MAEI, on-reserve Aboriginal students have
a higher drop-out rate (60 per cent) for high school than
do non-Aboriginal Canadians (9.5 per cent). Furthermore, only
nine per cent of Métis people, seven per cent of First
Nations people and four per cent of Inuit people have obtained
a university degree, compared to 23 per cent of non-Aboriginal
Canadians.
"This innovative partnership will allow more aboriginal
students to have the opportunity to set long-term education
and career goals," said The Right Honourable Paul Martin,
founder of MAEI.
The Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship program is designed
to improve students' proficiency in all subject areas including
Business, Math, English, Accounting, Marketing and Information
Technology. Using innovative hands-on activities, guest speakers,
mentors and examples of successful Aboriginal Canadian business
leaders, students have the opportunity to learn how to create
a product- or service-based business.
Founded in 2006, MAEI brings together Aboriginal organizations,
accounting professionals, the business community, post-secondary
institutions, First Nation schools and provincially-funded
school boards to implement programs that support Aboriginal
students and help them succeed. RBC's funding will provide
teacher training, program materials and program development
to both current and new program locations. MAEI is currently
operating in seven locations across Canada and plans to add
an additional six schools over the next three years.
"We are proud to support MAEI and help provide Aboriginal
students with the tools and resources they need to develop
the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life,"
said Shari Austin, vice-president and head, Corporate Citizenship
at RBC.
About About MAEI
MAEI believes that the development of skills will provide Aboriginal youth with an incentive to continue their education. The projects are chosen in discussion with the pertinent Aboriginal Leadership, Provincial and Territorial education authorities, and various national business communities. MAEI's goal is to support initiatives that improve education at the elementary and secondary levels for Aboriginal Canadians. For more information visit: www.mai-iam.ca/.
About RBC and the Community
As one of Canada's largest corporate donors, RBC supports
a broad range of community initiatives, through donations,
sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. 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.
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For more information, please contact:
Jackie Braden, RBC Brand Communications, (416) 974-1724, jackie.braden@rbc.com
Lucie Santoro, Administration Director, MAEI, (514) 982-3911,
lsantoro@mai-iam.ca
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