Almost $1 million will support innovative financial literacy initiatives across Canada

TORONTO, June 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) today announced the 15 community organizations that have been awarded a total of $999,267 from the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund to support financial literacy projects. The Fund supports organizations that deliver financial literacy programming to low income and economically disadvantaged people across the country.

The TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, administered by SEDI, recently completed its fourth round of funding, selecting the fifteen grantees from 136 applicants. In this round, supported projects will help organizations focused on serving, among others, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, rural and urban Aboriginal People, new Canadians, young mothers in recovery from addiction, and unemployed adults.

"The diverse initiatives supported by the Fund underscore the importance of financial literacy to all Canadians," said Elizabeth Mulholland, Interim Chief Executive Officer, SEDI. "In addition to supporting accessible financial literacy education, the Fund also serves as a catalyst for new approaches that strengthen the field of community financial literacy overall."

"Improving financial literacy for all Canadians requires creative thinking and a commitment to find new approaches that work for at-risk groups. TD is proud to support innovative financial literacy programming that makes a real difference in the lives of Canadians," said Scott Mullin, Vice President, Community Relations, TD Bank Group.

Since the Fund's inception in 2010, more than $4.1 million has been awarded to 55 community organizations across Canada. Grants are awarded based on innovation, research and development, and strategic program development of community-based financial literacy initiatives.

"We are thrilled to partner with George Brown College and Students in Free Enterprise to develop a financial literacy smart phone and computer app," says David Hughes, President and CEO of Pathways to Education Canada. "This innovation will help youth in low-income communities develop lifelong financial skills and confidence critical to their success in school and beyond."

"With this funding support we will be able to deliver a province-wide telephone information line and promotional campaign that will be available to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - even those in small, rural and remote communities - to help them to improve their financial situation. This will be an invaluable service in our province," says Al Antle, Executive Director, Credit Counselling Services of Newfoundland & Labrador Inc.

The full list of grantees is:

1. Toronto Foundation for Student Success, Toronto, ON
2. Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Vancouver, BC
3. Coalition des associations de consommateurs du Québec, Montreal, QC
4. K-W Working Centre for the Unemployed, Kitchener, ON
5. Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research, Calgary, AB
6. Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Toronto, ON
7. NWT Literacy Council, Yellowknife, NT
8. The Learning Disabilities Association of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON
9. Healthy Aboriginal Network, Courtenay, BC
10. Pathways to Education Canada, Toronto, ON
11. Credit Counselling Services of Newfoundland & Labrador Inc., St. John's, NL
12. St. Joseph Immigrant Women's Centre, Hamilton, ON
13. Centre de services éducatifs populaires du Haut-Saint-François, East Angus, QC
14. Youth Employment Assistance Headquarters Inc., Brockville, ON
15. University Settlement, Toronto, ON

The Fund is currently reviewing its guidelines in order to increase the impact of the Fund's grants on the field of financial literacy. New guidelines and a revised application form will be posted in June 2012. The deadline for the next round of applications will be announced in June 2012. Information can be found at www.sedi.org/grantfund.

About SEDI
SEDI is a charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to expand economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program and policy innovation. To learn more about SEDI's latest initiatives, the Canadian Centre for Financial Literacy and the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, please visit www.theccfl.ca and www.sedi.org/grantfund.

TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2011, TD donated over $65 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.