Legacy of Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay includes a
helping hand from the RBC Foundation across Canada
TORONTO, February 10, 2010 — RBC today
announced it has committed more than $5.3 million in donations
from the RBC Foundation to local causes and charities in more
than 180 communities on the route of the 2010 Olympic Torch
Relay.
As part of the community celebrations along the relay, RBC
announced donations to organizations that are making positive
and meaningful impacts in their neighbourhoods. Funding benefitted
organizations such as United Way/Centraide campaigns, Big
Brothers Big Sisters, local food banks, numerous schools,
colleges, universities, and dozens of other locally run charities.
"The 2010 Torch Relay served as a phenomenal rallying
point for millions of Canadians and it has truly been an honour
to contribute to its success," said Gordon M. Nixon,
RBC president and CEO. "RBC employees and clients are
actively working to improve their communities and we're proud
to support their efforts to create a better Canada with these
donations. The relay has been one of the great events in our
country's history and we are extremely proud to have been
a part of it."
"We had a vision to shed a light on the people and places
of Canada and bring the spirit of the Olympic Flame to every
corner of the country. We wanted to make Canadians proud and
through the hard work of our communities, the support of our
partners, and the millions of Canadians who celebrated the
relay with glowing hearts, we have surpassed even our most
ambitious expectations," said John Furlong, CEO of the
Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games (VANOC). "RBC's contributions to the 2010
Olympic Torch Relay have been immense. The way RBC has combined
their ongoing philanthropic contributions with their support
of the relay represents the magic of the Olympic Spirit and
the magic of Canada."
In addition to the donations, RBC, a presenting partner of
the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, also provided each community
an original piece of artwork to commemorate community celebrations
along the route. The art, created on stage at each celebration
by artists Fritz Branschat and Jessica Gorlicky, depicts an
iconic image of a Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearer.
About RBC
As part of our commitment to help create a better Canada,
RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local
communities to national sport associations that support the
development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad.
As a long standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic
Teams, RBC continues its sponsorship through the Vancouver
2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and is proud to help
showcase Olympic and Paralympic sport as presenting partner
of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays.
RBC is also a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian
Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics
Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Visit www.rbc.com/sponsorship.
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For more information, please contact:
Katie Hammill,
RBC, Media Relations, 2010 Olympic Torch Relay,
(416) 435-0734, rbctorch@gotoguys.net
Matthew Gierasimczuk,
RBC, Media Relations, (416) 974-2124
Gillian McArdle,
RBC, Media Relations, (416) 974-5506
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