TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - CIBC has committed $250,000 in support of L'Arche Canada's "Building for the Next Fifty Years" Campaign-- a national initiative to help more  Canadians with intellectual disabilities find places of work and home life that will enable them to fully belong within their towns and cities across Canada.

The Honourable David Onley, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Honorary Chairman of L'Arche's "Building for the Next Fifty Years" Campaign, expressed appreciation for the investment.  "This wonderful leadership gift from CIBC," he said, "will enable L'Arche to continue its fundamental affirmation of the value of people with intellectual disabilities. Like each one of us, they need a safe and loving home life and places of work where they can contribute and CIBC's generous gift will help L'Arche ‎achieve those goals."

"CIBC is honoured to support an organization that works to help those with intellectual disabilities," says Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Chief Risk Officer and Diversity & Inclusion Champio, CIBC. "With our own long-standing history of inclusiveness, we salute L'Arche Canada for challenging societal perceptions about disabilities and offering the help and resources people need to succeed."

"Building for the Next Fifty Years" is L'Arche's 50^th anniversary initiative to transform many more lives and to help build a society where everyone with an intellectual disability has a place of belonging and can make their unique contribution to others. The key goals of this campaign include:

• establishing more L'Arche communities across the country;
• welcoming more people with intellectual disabilities into L'Arche's existing homes and programs;
• creating new networks and initiatives aimed at responding to the needs of those who suffer from loneliness and isolation; and
• developing more of the award-winning educational resources for which L'Arche is known worldwide.

About L'Arche
Founded in 1964 by Jean Vanier, son of former Governor General Georges P. Vanier and Pauline Vanier, L'Arche is an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to the creation and growth of homes, programs, and support networks with people who have intellectual disabilities.  With over 150 locations in 40 countries around the world, L'Arche brings together people with and without visible disabilities to build communities where the gifts and contribution of every person can be recognized and valued, and where everyone is supported to find a place of belonging.

SOURCE L'Arche Canada