LONDON, UK, Sept. 24, 2014 /CNW/ - CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) today announced donations totaling more than £650,000 for three children's charities in the U.K.

The donations, made through the CIBC Children's Foundation, will help support programming and services dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of children.

Recipient charities and grants announced today are as follows:

• CHICKS - provides some of the most disadvantaged children in the U.K. with free, week-long, respite breaks in the countryside and by the sea. It received a grant to expand into the Midlands in 2015.
   
• PACE - a children's educational and development charity that transforms the lives of children and young people with motor disorders, such as cerebral palsy. It received a grant to develop its new education centre.
   
• Honeypot Children's Charity - provides short respite breaks for vulnerable children, and young carers who have demanding or stressful responsibilities at home. It received a grant towards the refurbishment of its swimming pool.

"CIBC is committed to working together with our clients and charities to improve the lives of children in the communities served by our organization," says Kevin Li, Managing Director and Head of CIBC in Europe.  "We are pleased to support these charities and their programs which offer long-lasting benefits to so many."

This year is the 30^th anniversary of the creation of the CIBC Children's Foundation, established in 1984 to raise funds for children's charities around the world. Since inception, £138 million has been raised globally to improve the quality of life of thousands of children affected by disability, illness, social deprivation or life-limiting conditions.

The majority of fundraising takes place on CIBC Miracle Day, which takes place annually on the first Wednesday in December. On this day, participating CIBC wholesale banking employees donate their fees and commissions to the CIBC Children's Foundation.

In London, funds are also raised through a number of staff and client fundraising events held throughout the year. This ensures CIBC Miracle Day has become an integral part of our business. CIBC's Wholesale Banking European operation has donated over £4.5 million to numerous children's charities across the United Kingdom and Europe since it became involved in 1994.

About CIBC

CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients and  three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Wholesale Banking. CIBC's wholesale banking business provides integrated credit and capital markets products, investment banking advisory services  and top-ranked research to corporate, government and institutional clients around the world. Visit www.cibcwm.com for Wholesale Banking news releases and information. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Media Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.

SOURCE CIBC World Markets Children's Foundation