SURREY, BC, May 3, 2013 /CNW/ - A $750,000 donation from TD Bank Group has moved Simon Fraser University one big step closer to its goal of being Canada's most community-engaged research university.

The donation will establish a community engagement centre in the heart of Surrey from which SFU will deliver a wide range of community programs.

Located in the new Surrey City Centre Library, the SFU Surrey - TD Community Engagement Centre will foster stronger links between the university and Surrey's diverse and growing population.  Its mandate is to inspire and positively influence new Canadians to pursue post-secondary education while providing opportunities for SFU students, staff and faculty to connect with and have an impact upon the community.

The centre will offer a range of courses, workshops and learning experiences to enable faculty and students to work with local partners to strengthen the community's economy and social fabric. It will be home to SFU's Friends of Simon, a program that pairs student tutors with immigrant and refugee children in after-school settings, as well as financial literacy workshops and outreach programs on topics ranging from digital media to world literature.

"We are proud to open this new centre in Surrey, one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Canada," says Frank McKenna, Deputy Chair, TD Bank Group. "At TD, it's important to us to give back to organizations that make a difference in the communities where our employees live and work. When the team at SFU came to TD with the idea to create a community engagement centre, it was an opportunity to support teaching, research and outreach in a way that strengthens ties between the university and the community that surrounds and sustains it." 

Adds SFU President Andrew Petter: "The SFU Surrey - TD Community Engagement Centre reflects SFU's new vision as 'The Engaged University,' and will enable the university to strengthen its connections with Surrey's ethnically diverse and growing population. The centre will connect children, adults and local organizations with SFU students, faculty and staff in meaningful ways that will enhance the quality of life for residents of the community."

TD Community Giving

TD Bank Group invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2012, TD Bank Group 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.

About Simon Fraser University

Simon Fraser University is Canada's top-ranked comprehensive university and one of the top 50 universities in the world under 50 years old.  With campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey, B.C., SFU recently adopted a new Strategic Vision "to be the leading engaged university defined by its dynamic integration of innovative education, cutting-edge research, and far-reaching community engagement. "

SOURCE: TD Bank Group