TORONTO, June 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Today Social and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) announced that the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund has awarded over $1.8 million in grants to 23 community organizations in support of financial literacy projects. The Fund supports organizations that deliver financial literacy programming to low-income and economically disadvantaged people across the country.

This round of contributions will support programs focused on financial education and support for seniors, women, newcomers, at-risk youth, women in conflict with the law, persons with disabilities, and Aboriginal people.

"Financial literacy is a key stepping stone to a stronger economic future for many low-income Canadians," said Elizabeth Mulholland, Chief Executive Officer, SEDI. "The community-based programs we're supporting will enable vulnerable individuals to take greater control of their financial lives by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions about their money and the best use of their financial resources to achieve their goals."

"At TD, we are committed to helping Canadians break the cycle of poverty and the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund supports innovative financial education, which is available to thousands of Canadians across the country," said John Tracy, Senior Vice President, TD Bank Group. "In addition to this Fund, over 1,000 of our very own TD employees volunteer their time to facilitate programs and work with their communities to ensure that financial education is accessible to everyone."

To date, the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund has awarded approximately $7 million to 90 community organizations across Canada. Grants are awarded for innovation, research and development, and strategic program development in the area of community-based financial literacy. A further $4 million will be allocated over the four remaining rounds of the Fund to financial literacy projects proposed by charitable and community organizations from across Canada.

"The low-income newcomers and financially challenged Calgarians that participate in our Money Smart Financial Literacy project will learn about the Canadian financial system, and be better equipped with money management tools and the knowledge, skills and confidence to meet their financial obligations," said Salim M. Sindhu, Executive Director of Calgary Immigrant Educational Society. "The project will help increase accessibility to financial education for people living in Canada who may normally be excluded from mainstream financial organizations."

"Goodwill® has a longstanding commitment to providing holistic services to our employees and the people we serve," said Kevin Smith, CEO of Goodwill® Industries — Essex Kent Lambton. "We offer foundational services that equip individuals and families to build assets, connect to work supports, avoid predatory lending practices and improve financial capacity. This is key because, for individuals to succeed in a job, their family and finances must be stable. With the generous support of the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, Goodwill® will be able to provide financial literacy programs to well over 300 people in Essex and Lambton Counties."

The following is a full list of grant recipients:

1. Aboriginal Peoples Alliance Northern Ontario, Cochrane, ON
2. Afghan Women's Counselling and Integration Community Support Organization, Toronto, ON
3. Calgary Immigrant Educational Society, Calgary, AB
4. Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, Ottawa, ON
5. Common Ground Co-operative Inc., Toronto, ON
6. Community Futures Manitoba Inc., Winnipeg, MB
7. Community Sector Council Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL
8. Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC
9. DAREarts Foundation Inc., Palgrave, ON
10. Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB
11. Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, Vancouver, BC
12. Flemingdon Health Centre, Toronto, ON
13. Goodwill Industries - Essex Kent Lambton Inc., Sarnia, ON
14. Houselink Community Homes, Toronto, ON
15. Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre, Toronto, ON
16. Jewish Vocational Service of Metropolitan Toronto, Toronto, ON
17. Operation Springboard, Toronto, ON
18. Relais-femmes, Montréal, QC
19. Secwepemc Cultural Education Society (SCES), Kamloops, BC
20. St. Christopher House, Toronto, ON
21. The Adventure Group & Women's Network PEI, Charlottetown, PE
22. The YWCA of St. Catharines, St. Catharines, ON
23. WoodGreen Community Services, Toronto, ON

The deadline for the next round of applications will be September 19, 2013. For more information please visit: www.sedi.org/grantfund.

About SEDI
SEDI is a charitable non-profit organization dedicated to expanding 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 Bank Group invests in communities in order to effect positive change in the places where it operates and where its clients and employees live and work. In 2012, TD donated over $65 million to support community organizations in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, TD focuses on education and financial literacy, creating opportunities for young people and the environment. For further information, please visit www.td.com/corporate-responsibility.

SOURCE: TD Community Giving