Tuition helps high school students pursue a post-secondary education, while internships and mentoring provide valuable training and life skills

TORONTO, June 12, 2014 /CNW/ - CIBC (TSX:CM) (NYSE:CM) announced today the 33 recipients of the 2014 CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program who will receive  up to $40,000, helping to make it possible for them to go to college or university and pursue their life dreams.

The recipients, from across Canada, will be officially congratulated at CIBC branch presentations over the next two weeks. The first two presentations will take place June 13 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, for two recipients, and June 14 in Hamilton, Ontario, home to seven scholarship winners.

"I want to become a doctor," says Witness Dufitimana of Hamilton, Ontario. "I am the oldest of six children and my parents won't be able to pay for my education. This scholarship will make a world of difference for me."

Each year, CIBC commits more than $1 million in the CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program to give youth-in-need the financial means of pursuing a college or university education. This one-of-a-kind scholarship program partners with the YMCA as national administrator of the internship portion of the program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. It provides 33 Grade 10 students with funding for tuition, dedicated mentorship and six years of paid summer internships to help them build a better future and reach their full potential.

"CIBC is dedicated to helping Canada's youth-in-need achieve their academic goals because we strongly believe they deserve the right to a good education and support to become tomorrow's  leaders," says Sharon Mathers, Senior Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs, CIBC. "On behalf of CIBC, I would like to congratulate this year's exceptional CIBC Youthvision Scholarship recipients on their achievements."

The 2014 recipients are:

* Full names withheld by request

Over the past 16 years, CIBC has committed $15 million and changed the lives of almost 500 Canadian youth through the program.

"Living in poverty and dealing with my father's sudden death made my teenage years very difficult," says Danisha Bhaloo of Edmonton, Alberta, one of the first recipients of a CIBC Youthvision scholarship in 2000. "I couldn't be where I am today without the support of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the CIBC Youthvision scholarship."

Ms. Bhaloo's CIBC Youthvision scholarship enabled her to study criminology at the University of Alberta and continue her studies at McGill University, where she obtained a diploma in public relations. In her desire to give back, Ms. Bhaloo is now Manager of Fund Development for Boys and Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area, which amalgamated in 2011.

In 2013, as part of our legacy as Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, CIBC introduced three additional annual scholarships: The CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Athlete Award to three underserved students, who demonstrate excellence in sport and sport leadership. This year's recipients are from Hamilton, Vancouver and Victoria.

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. With a strategic focus on Kids, Cures and Community, 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 2013, CIBC contributed more than $41 million to 1,870 charitable and non-profit initiatives in over 430 communities. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

About the CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program

Each year the CIBC Youthvision Scholarship program commits more than $1 million to make post-secondary education dreams a reality for youth-in-need. Now in its 16^th year, this one-of-a-kind program has already helped almost 500 students and committed more than $15 million. To be eligible, Grade 10 students must be enrolled in a mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada or the YMCA. Students receive ongoing mentoring from either Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada or the YMCA until they graduate from their post-secondary education. In addition to the 30 students who have always received annual scholarships, beginning in 2013, three additional scholarships were added to students showing exceptional athletic potential, as part of CIBC youth legacy commitment as the Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce