- TD Friends of the Environment Foundation helps to fund local environmental projects in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON, June 8, 2011 /CNW/ - Hamiltonians are getting their hands dirty as they celebrate Canadian Environment Week from June 5-11 with the help of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF). With donations totaling over $15,000 to local community gardening projects, TD FEF is planting the seeds for stronger communities.

CityHousing Hamilton and the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre recently received grants from the Hamilton Chapter of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation to help facilitate their initiatives. The gardens are community projects that are designed to improve the quality of life and increase access to food for all community members by growing food in a natural capacity.

"We are thrilled to support the growth of community gardens in Hamilton" says Farzana Syed, Regional Manager of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "At TD FEF, we look to support projects that help people experience their local environments and engage with their local communities. The community gardens that the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre and CityHousing Hamilton are spearheading go one step further by engaging communities and providing solutions to local food issues."

In addition to the community gardens, the Hamilton Chapter has supported over 550 environmental projects with more than $3.3 million in funds since 1990 including:

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Education programs for children
• Environmental cleanups
• Tree planting campaigns
• Conservation and recycling initiatives
• Urban renewal

TD FEF encourages charities, schools, municipalities and Aboriginal groups to apply for funding online at www.tdfef.com.

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation:
Since 1990, TD FEF has provided more than $54 million in funding to over 19,500 grassroots environment and wildlife projects across Canada. In 2010, TD FEF provided more than $3.5 million in support of 970 projects. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis and TD Bank Financial Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually.  TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated goes directly to funding environment and wildlife projects in the community where the donation was made.  For more information on how to donate and get involved in your community, visit www.tdfef.com.