TORONTO, July 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Prosper Canada is pleased to announce that 16 community organizations have been awarded a total of $1.1 million through the concluding round of its TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund.

The TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund is administered by Prosper Canada and supports organizations that deliver financial literacy programming to people living in low income and economically disadvantaged circumstances across the country. This is the final granting round of the Fund which will end, as scheduled, in December 2015.

"The TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund has helped to build a distinct and growing financial literacy field in Canada, providing much needed support to organizations serving at-risk groups," said Elizabeth Mulholland, Chief Executive Officer, Prosper Canada. "In addition to supporting accessible financial literacy education, the Fund has served as a catalyst for new approaches that have strengthened community financial literacy programs across the country."

The funding provided to this final group of recipients will support the development and delivery of financial education and support programs for homeless youth, Aboriginal peoples, newcomers, deaf people, women, and seniors.

"We have been proud to support the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund for the last five years. Through Prosper Canada, it has helped a number of programs to reach Canadians who are looking to acquire financial skills and knowledge," said Scott Mullin, Vice President, Community Relations, TD Bank Group. "Regardless of background, everyone should have access to information and education to help them better their lives financially."

Since its inception, the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund has awarded approximately $10.4 million to 140 community organizations across Canada. Grants are awarded for innovation, research and development, and strategic program development in the area of community-based financial literacy.

"Thanks to the TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, Calgary Immigrant Women's Association, in partnership with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, will be able to address the unique needs of immigrant women who come to Canada with skills and expertise, but struggle with daily financial challenges due to underemployment," says Beba Svigir, Chief Executive Officer of the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association. "We will incorporate financial literacy into our employment training programs and offer additional workshops for clients receiving support in meeting basic needs. Saving for the future is an important component of our customized curriculum that will provide sustainable solutions for the immigrant women we serve."

"The TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund grant will help us address the growing needs of newcomers in Saskatchewan," said Karen Rosser, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Literacy Network. "Through the development of a financial literacy mentorship program, we will be able to engage newcomers and respond directly to their unique needs, paving the way to personal and professional financial growth. Funding will also help build the capacity of service providers to assist newcomers."

The following organizations have been awarded grants:

1. Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada - Ottawa, ON
2. Agincourt Community Services Association - Scarborough, ON
3. Calgary Immigrant Women's Association - Calgary, AB
4. Canadian Foundation for Economic Education - Toronto, ON
5. Catholic Crosscultural Services - Toronto, ON
6. Chilliwack Community Services - Chilliwack, BC
7. Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth - Toronto, ON
8. Jewish Family Services - Edmonton, AB
9. Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre - Kitchener, ON
10. La Passerelle Intégration et Développement Économique - Toronto, ON
11. Saskatchewan Literacy Network Inc. - Saskatoon, SK
12. Silent Voice Canada Inc. - Toronto, ON
13. Toronto Centre for Community Learning & Development - Toronto, ON
14. YES Employment Services - Thunder Bay, ON
15. Young Women's Christian Association of Moncton - Moncton, NB
16. Young Women's Christian Association St. Thomas Elgin - St. Thomas, ON

For more information please visit: www.prospercanada.org.

About Prosper Canada
Prosper Canada (formerly Social Enterprise Development Innovations) is a national charity dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program and policy innovation. As Canada's leading champion of financial empowerment, Prosper Canada works with government, business and community partners to develop and promote financial policies, programs and resources that transform lives and foster the prosperity of all Canadians.To learn more, please visit www.prospercanada.org.

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 2013, TD donated more than $74.7 million to 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 Bank Group