Unique funding/mentorship program supports aspiring athletes and inspires youth participation in sports

TORONTO, Nov. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - On Monday, Nov. 18 CIBC (CM: TSX) (CM: NYSE) will announce the 67 Canadian amateur athletes who will form the roster of CIBC Team Next in a special ceremony at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto.

CIBC Team Next athlete mentors Josh Cassidy, Mark de Jonge, Stephanie Dixon, Mary Spencer, Bruny Surin and Simon Whitfield will be on hand to welcome the aspiring athletes and mark the program's official launch.

The celebration will also feature opening remarks from the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) and Richard Nesbitt, Chief Operating Officer, CIBC, and pre-event entertainment including PACHI, the official mascot for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games and freestyle soccer demonstrations.

Representing the future of amateur sport in Canada, and our nation's cultural mosaic and geographic diversity, the members of CIBC Team Next will receive $15,000 in funding over the next three years plus invaluable opportunities to develop important career and life skills from former and current world-class Canadian athlete mentors.

As Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, CIBC invested $2 million in the CIBC Team Next program to create a lasting sport legacy in Canada. This program is in addition to the $2 million legacy investments CIBC has already committed in support of Canada's youth related to the Pan/Parapan Am Games, including sport-related CIBC Youthvision scholarships and programs for Aboriginal youth.

The CIBC Team Next program is being administered for CIBC by AthletesCAN and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario. For more information on the program, please visit facebook.com/cibc.

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. As the Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games and a Premier Partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee, CIBC is committed to enriching Canadian communities through the power of sport. We support causes that matter to our clients, our employees and our communities and aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees. In 2012, CIBC contributed more than $38 million to over 1,900 charitable and non-profit initiatives in 450 communities. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce