TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Leverages Thousands of
    Individual Donations into $42 Million Program

    TORONTO, Sept. 6 /CNW/ - Turning good intentions into "green"
accomplishments doesn't have to take a huge effort or a lot of money, contrary
to a recent survey of Canadians' charitable giving practices by the TD Friends
of the Environment Foundation (FEF). The survey found one in four (25%)
Canadians believe that in order to make an impact, they need to donate a
substantial amount - between $100 and $249 annually. Yet the reality is that
small, regular donations combined with similar contributions from like-minded
individuals can have a massive impact.
    For the past 17 years, this has been the strategy of the TD Friends of
the Environment Foundation whose mission is to support the efforts of
Canadians dedicated to the well-being of the environment. Regular donations by
TD employees and customers have contributed to $42 million in funding for
16,000 environmental and wildlife grassroots projects. TD Bank Financial Group
donates $1 million to FEF annually in addition to covering the management and
administrative costs of running the Foundation. This ensures that 100% of
every dollar donated by employees and customers is used for funding projects
in the community where the donation was made.
    "The TD Friends of the Environment Foundation succeeds on the premise
that a little green can be turned into a lot of green in grassroots
environmental activities by combining small, regular donations from many
individuals," explains Mike Pedersen, Group Head, Corporate Operations, TD
Bank Financial Group. "Our research shows that the majority of Canadians
prefer to see their donations assist with local or community-based programs -
and FEF helps Canadians see their donations at work in their own backyards."

    Canadians are mixed on environmental priorities

    According to the survey, Canadians' views on environmental priorities
vary based on geographic location:

    -   Overall, one quarter (23%) of Canadians cited climate change as the
        most important environmental concern that needs to be addressed;
        followed by air quality (21%) and clean lakes and rivers (17%);
    -   However, Ontarians cite air quality (24%) as their number one
        priority, with climate change (22%) second and clean lakes and rivers
        (19%) third;
    -   Far more Atlantic Canadians (32%) put climate change as their biggest
        concern, followed by air quality (21%) and environmental education
        (17%) third;
    -   British Columbians also cite environmental education (17%) in their
        top-three environmental concerns, as do those living in Quebec and
        Manitoba/Saskatchewan.

    "Two charitable trends have emerged recently - the environment and the
preference towards local giving. With TD Friends of the Environment
Foundation, Canadians can be assured that their donations are wholeheartedly
being directed to environmental organizations right in their own communities,"
added Pedersen. "By combining our efforts we can make a difference together
and focus on areas of greatest concern in each community."

    Recent TD Friends of the Environment Foundation funding recipients
include:

    -   TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup: In 2006 alone, FEF's
        contribution helped organize over 40,000 volunteers who cleaned
        966 sites covering more than 2,000 kilometres of shoreline, filling
        more than 8,000 garbage bags.
    -   London Children's Museum: Environmental education programs to teach
        elementary school children about endangered species.
    -   Critter Care Wildlife Society: Non-profit, volunteer-based agency
        that receives, rehabilitates and releases back into the wild injured
        and orphaned mammals native to British Columbia.
    -   Canadian Peregrine Foundation: Committed to the preservation and
        conservation of endangered and threatened birds of prey across
        Canada.
    -   The Corvée du Mont-Royal(TM): An annual tradition for hundreds of
        Montrealers who, on a voluntary basis, help beautify Mount Royal Park
        during its springtime awakening.
    -   Marmot Recovery Foundation: Dedicated to increasing the number of
        Vancouver Island marmots, Canada's most endangered animal. Since
        efforts began in 2001, the population has risen from 80 to 210.

    "Organizations like ours survive because of the financial support we
receive from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation," said Mark Nash, on
behalf of The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, a recent TD Friends of the
Environment Foundation funding recipient. "FEF is the pathway from individual
donations to a community working together. It means the public can see
firsthand how their donations are being used in their communities and can take
pride in the contributions their local charities receive."
    From September 10-22, TD Canada Trust will be hosting an in-branch
campaign to educate customers about the TD Friends of the Environment
Foundation. TD customers who register for automated monthly donations
in-branch will receive a complimentary gift. Customers can also set up
automated monthly donations by logging into EasyWeb and clicking on "Special
Requests." To learn more about FEF and how to make a difference in your
community visit www.fef.ca.

    About the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Survey

    The survey was conducted by Environics Research Group on behalf of TD
Bank Financial Group from June 29 to July 3, 2007. The telephone survey is
based on a randomly selected sample of 1,000 Canadians ages 18+. With a sample
of this size, the results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.1 percentage
points, 19 times out of 20.

    TD Friends of the Environment Foundation is working with charitable
organizations across the country.

    /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
    the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
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    members of the media/

For further information: or to arrange an interview with a local
spokesperson in your community, please contact: Jill Anzarut or Niya Nikitova,
(416) 969-2708 or (416) 969-2654