Winner of Eva's Initiatives Award for Innovation sponsored by CIBC

HALIFAX, June 16 /CNW/ - CIBC is pleased to announce that Phoenix Youth Programs has been selected as having one of Canada's most innovative programs for homeless youth by Eva's Initiatives, an organization that works with homeless and at-risk youth aged 12 to 24 to get them off the streets permanently.

The Eva's Initiatives Awards for Innovation are sponsored by CIBC and given out annually to recognize outstanding work with homeless youth. Phoenix Youth Programs was selected for its Phoenix Prevention Program and Mulgrave Park Community Development Initiative in Halifax. This program engages the community through a collaborative approach to develop meaningful opportunities for youth. As a result, several valuable programs have been introduced in the Mulgrave Park area, including a summer program for teens, a teen after-school program with art, cultural and recreational activities, community service opportunities, tutoring and mentorship, and a lunch program at the junior high school. Recently, Phoenix opened a Community and Teen Centre in Mulgrave Park. The prevention work also helps to increase youths' sense of confidence and community contribution while strengthening connections with peers, family and school.

"Phoenix Youth Programs is very proud to have been selected for this award," said Timothy Crooks, Executive Director, Phoenix Youth Programs. "The Mulgrave Park initiative works to ensure youth have opportunities to contribute their talents to the larger community. We rely on the thoughtful and generous participation of parents, community members, area schools and supportive agencies throughout the city. This prevention program has been a success and includes a community development element which is unique in the country. We thank Eva's Initiatives for its endorsement of our prevention-focused efforts."

"Prevention programs like this one literally close the door on youth homelessness. They support families and communities and keep young people from becoming homeless in the first place," comments Rachel Gray, Eva's Director of National Initiatives. "Given our interest in prevention strategies, and the experience we have had with our Eva's Initiatives' family reconnect program, we are very pleased that Phoenix Youth Programs program was selected by the panel this year."

"At CIBC, helping young people achieve their full potential is an important part of our community investment program," said Sylvain Vinet, CIBC's Senior Vice-President for Eastern Canada. "We are proud to support Eva's Initiatives and the Innovation Awards and salute Phoenix Youth Programs for its exemplary work in the Halifax community." CIBC has had a long-standing relationship with Eva's Initiatives, to which it has contributed more than $330,000 since 1995. CIBC has also been a strong supporter of Phoenix Youth Programs, providing more than $100,000 in funding to the organization over the last 10 years.

Nationally, Eva's Initiatives works to build innovative and long-term solutions to youth homelessness. The Eva's Initiative Innovation Awards program is in its sixth year of recognizing the work of organizations across Canada to help homeless youth become self-sufficient. Since 2006, Eva's Initiatives has honoured 18 organizations for their work with homeless and at-risk youth. A six member panel, knowledgeable about services for homeless youth, reviews all applications and selects three winners from among the many applicants with impressive and innovative projects underway in communities across the county.

The other winners for 2011 are:

• Bathurst Youth Centre for Bathurst Youth House (Bathurst, NB)
• Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) for RaY Emergency Shelter and Transition (REST) (Winnipeg, MB)

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 2010, $33.7 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 www.communitymatters.cibc.com.