Kids Across Canada Skate with their Heroes to Create Miracles

VANCOUVER, Nov. 22 /CNW/ - On Tuesday, 40 children from Vancouver area charities will get a chance to skate with some of the country's sporting legends and entertainment stars in celebration of CIBC's 26th annual Miracle Day.

Children from Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver; Hockey Education Reaching Out Society; and Power to Be will join former Vancouver Canuck Captain, Trevor Linden; etalk's Lainey Lui; and CIBC traders and advisors on the ice at UBC's Thunderbird Arena. For some of the kids it will be their first time on skates and for others it is a chance to show their skills off to some of their heroes and the bankers who've helped them along the way.

"For too many of these children, things that most kids take for granted like owning a pair of skates and feeling the thrill of gliding across the ice, just aren't possible for financial or health reasons," says Norm Flynn, Executive Director, Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (H.E.R.O.S.). "This event is a great reminder that many children need our support and of the important work CIBC's Children's Foundation does in our community."

Since 1984, on the first Wednesday in December, CIBC's wholesale banking employees and Wood Gundy Investment Advisors have donated their fees and commissions to over 400 children's charities across Canada as part of CIBC Miracle Day. To-date, more than $55 million has been raised to improve the lives of children across the country.

Kaleb Wallace knows firsthand the importance of CIBC Miracle Day. As a child he started playing hockey through H.E.R.O.S., an initiative started by Vancouver CIBC Investment Advisors in 1999 that gives children in economically challenged neighbourhoods an opportunity to learn the game of hockey by providing all equipment and on/off ice instruction. He says being able to play hockey increased his self-esteem and built key life skills.

"H.E.R.O.S. helped me not only learn to play hockey but more importantly taught me the value of working hard and setting goals," says Kaleb. "I don't know that I would have gone to college without the help of H.E.R.O.S. and the generous support by CIBC." Kaleb is currently furthering his education at Vancouver's Langara College and continues to mentor others involved with the H.E.R.O.S. program. He will be on hand at the CIBC Miracle Day skate to encourage participants and to share his story.

"By hosting this event we hope to highlight the fact that many children in our communities continue to need our support," says Richard Nesbitt, Chairman and CEO, CIBC World Markets Inc." For the past 26 years, we have worked with our clients to support and improve the quality of life for Canadian children. What started with the simple belief that by working together we could make a difference has grown into one of Canada's largest single-day corporate fundraisers for children."

This year CIBC Miracle Day will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

CIBC Miracle Day Skate for Kids Details

About CIBC

CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, employees and our communities. We aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees. With a strategic focus on youth, education and health, and employee commitment to causes including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, the CIBC Children's Foundation and United Way, we are investing in the social and economic development of communities across the country. In 2009, $27 million was contributed through the CIBC group of companies to charitable and non-profit initiatives in Canada, supporting a wide variety of national, regional and local organizations. To learn more, visit communitymatters.cibc.com.

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