TD Waterhouse donates $250,000 to at-risk youth programme

TORONTO, July 27, 2011 /CNW/ - His Royal Highness, The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, along with The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Ruth Ann Onley and The Honourable Graydon Nicholas, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, joined The Duke of Edinburgh's Award board members and TD Waterhouse representatives yesterday to congratulate Award recipients and participants for their achievements in pursuing The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

At the celebration, TD Waterhouse announced a new donation of $250,000 as part of its Investing in Youth initiative, which improves accessibility to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award for young Canadians. With this new gift, TD Waterhouse has pledged over $1.2 million since 2005 to take the Investing in Youth initiative across Canada, allowing additional inner-city youth and youth with disabilities to participate in the programme.

"Thanks to TD Waterhouse, the Investing in Youth initiative is enabling The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme to deliver on our mandate of ensuring that young people, especially those in Canada's at-risk communities, have the opportunity to participate in the Award," said Peter Melanson, National President The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Canada.

"We are very proud to encourage personal growth and achievement for young Canadians as they develop key life skills through Investing in Youth," said Mike Reilly, Senior Vice-President, TD Waterhouse. "The Duke of Edinburgh's Award offers an opportunity for all youth to demonstrate leadership, challenge themselves, and learn skills that will positively impact their lives, regardless of circumstance or physical ability."

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is open to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25, and with TD's support has been made even more accessible to young Canadians. Earning an award requires effort and commitment, as participants attain their personal community service, skill development, physical recreation and adventurous journey goals to receive a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

"TD Waterhouse is a long standing partner and the largest corporate sponsor of the Award programme in Canada, and the Investing in Youth initiative currently extends to more than 5,300 youth in inner cities across the country," said Rick Ashbee, National Executive Director, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Canada. "Thanks to the continuing support of TD, Investing in Youth will expand to engage even more young people in realizing their potential and making a difference in their communities."

About The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Award was founded in 1956 by HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to help young people develop a sense of responsibility to themselves and their communities. Today the award operates in over 120 countries and has become one of the world's most prestigious youth programs. Brought to Canada in 1963, The Award currently attracts over 37,000 participants each year from every corner of the country.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme is open to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25 regardless of circumstance or ability. Participants achieve the Award by attaining personally established goals in community service, skills development (covering almost any hobby, skill or interest), physical recreation and an adventurous journey (including canoeing, dog sledding, hiking and sea kayaking). There are three levels of the Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold), each requiring increasing degrees of effort and commitment.

About TD Community Giving

TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work. In 2010, TD donated over $50 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 TD Waterhouse
TD Waterhouse represents the products and services offered by TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. (Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund), TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc., TD Waterhouse Insurance Services Inc., TD Waterhouse Private Banking (offered by The Toronto-Dominion Bank) and TD Waterhouse Private Trust (offered by The Canada Trust Company).

Image with caption: "On July 26, 2011 in Toronto, HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, meets with award recipients and programme participants from the TD Waterhouse Investing in Youth initiative. L-R: The Honourable Graydon Nicholas, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick, Mrs. Ruth Ann Onley, The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Stephanie Carvalheiro, Gold Award recipient. (CNW Group/TD Waterhouse Group, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20110727_C7796_PHOTO_EN_1682.jpg