Kids in Montréal Skate with their Heroes to Create Miracles

MONTRÉAL, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - On Friday, 40 children from Montréal area charities will get a chance to skate with some of the country's sports legends and entertainment stars in celebration of CIBC's 26th annual Miracle Day. This Miracle Day Skate is one of four being held by CIBC this week in Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal.

In Montréal, children from Generations Foundation and Hockey Education Reaching Out Society will join Women's Hockey Olympic medalists and World Champions Kim St-Pierre and Nancy Drolet; Stanley Cup winning coach Bob Hartley; Montréal Canadiens Announcer Sebastien Goulet; and CIBC traders and advisors on the ice at McGill McConnell Arena. For some of the kids it will be their first time on skates, and for others it will be a chance to show their skills off to some of their heroes and to 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 Adrian Bercovici, Executive Director, Generations Foundation/Fondation Générations. "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 have been raised to improve the lives of children across the country.

"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 25 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 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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