MLSE Foundation and BMO team up to provide GTA youth greater access to sport

May 7, 2021 (Toronto, ON) – MLSE Foundation today named BMO Financial Group as the presenting sponsor of its KickStart program, delivered in partnership with Toronto FC and Toronto Community Housing. The KickStart program trains coaches, provides employment opportunities, and introduces youth ages 8-14 to the game of soccer with a focus on physical literacy and fundamental skill development. 

“BMO has been an incredible partner of ours and this is more than a program sponsorship - it’s a commitment to supporting youth in these challenging times,” said Tanya Mruck, Executive Director, MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the youth we serve, but through KickStart, we are able to provide job opportunities, encourage physical activity and keep people connected. That’s only possible with the generous support of companies like BMO.”

BMO’s sponsorship of the KickStart program enables MLSE Foundation to continue providing equitable access to sport and opportunity for youth facing barriers. Over a five-week period, the program will provide 170 youth access to sport across a minimum of nine community sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

“We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with Toronto FC and MLSE Foundation,” said Catherine Roche, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Social Impact, BMO Financial Group. “In line with BMO’s Purpose-driven commitment to Boldly Grow the Good in business and in life, through programs like KickStart, we’re supporting youth access to sport and making a positive impact in our communities.”

To learn more about the KickStart program and how to get involved, visit: https://www.mlsefoundation.org/how-we-give/community-programs.

For more information on BMO’s community giving initiatives, visit: https://our-impact.bmo.com/our-practices/community-giving/.

About MLSE Foundation

MLSE Foundation is an organization built on the belief that sport has the power to change the world. With the support of Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC, we invest in programs, organizations and communities to empower the next generation to use sport to recognize and reach their potential. Since launching in December 2009, MLSE Foundation has invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities. We fight to provide equitable access to sport and opportunity on the playing field that leads to success and opportunity off the playing field. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. Visit mlsefoundation.org for more information and follow @MLSEFoundation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About BMO

Serving customers for 200 years, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $973 billion as of January 31, 2021, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Media contacts:

Nikk Kadbet, MLSE, Nikk.Kadbet@mlse.com

Natasha Boeck, BMO Financial Group, Natasha.Boeck@bmo.com

"For them, House of Hockey also became the House of Dreams."
Lisa Wiele, MLSE LaunchPad

MORE STORIES

MLSE Foundation and BMO team up to provide GTA youth greater access to sport
MLSE PR

May 7, 2021 (Toronto, ON) – MLSE Foundation today named BMO Financial Group as the presenting sponsor of its KickStart program, delivered in partnership with Toronto FC and Toronto Community Housing. The KickStart program trains coaches, provides employment opportunities, and introduces youth ages 8-14 to the game of soccer with a focus on physical literacy and fundamental skill development. 

“BMO has been an incredible partner of ours and this is more than a program sponsorship - it’s a commitment to supporting youth in these challenging times,” said Tanya Mruck, Executive Director, MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the youth we serve, but through KickStart, we are able to provide job opportunities, encourage physical activity and keep people connected. That’s only possible with the generous support of companies like BMO.”

BMO’s sponsorship of the KickStart program enables MLSE Foundation to continue providing equitable access to sport and opportunity for youth facing barriers. Over a five-week period, the program will provide 170 youth access to sport across a minimum of nine community sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

“We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with Toronto FC and MLSE Foundation,” said Catherine Roche, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Social Impact, BMO Financial Group. “In line with BMO’s Purpose-driven commitment to Boldly Grow the Good in business and in life, through programs like KickStart, we’re supporting youth access to sport and making a positive impact in our communities.”

To learn more about the KickStart program and how to get involved, visit: https://www.mlsefoundation.org/how-we-give/community-programs.

For more information on BMO’s community giving initiatives, visit: https://our-impact.bmo.com/our-practices/community-giving/.

About MLSE Foundation

MLSE Foundation is an organization built on the belief that sport has the power to change the world. With the support of Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC, we invest in programs, organizations and communities to empower the next generation to use sport to recognize and reach their potential. Since launching in December 2009, MLSE Foundation has invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities. We fight to provide equitable access to sport and opportunity on the playing field that leads to success and opportunity off the playing field. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. Visit mlsefoundation.org for more information and follow @MLSEFoundation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About BMO

Serving customers for 200 years, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $973 billion as of January 31, 2021, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Media contacts:

Nikk Kadbet, MLSE, Nikk.Kadbet@mlse.com

Natasha Boeck, BMO Financial Group, Natasha.Boeck@bmo.com

"
"

"
"

MORE STORIES

May 7, 2021 (Toronto, ON) – MLSE Foundation today named BMO Financial Group as the presenting sponsor of its KickStart program, delivered in partnership with Toronto FC and Toronto Community Housing. The KickStart program trains coaches, provides employment opportunities, and introduces youth ages 8-14 to the game of soccer with a focus on physical literacy and fundamental skill development. 

“BMO has been an incredible partner of ours and this is more than a program sponsorship - it’s a commitment to supporting youth in these challenging times,” said Tanya Mruck, Executive Director, MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the youth we serve, but through KickStart, we are able to provide job opportunities, encourage physical activity and keep people connected. That’s only possible with the generous support of companies like BMO.”

BMO’s sponsorship of the KickStart program enables MLSE Foundation to continue providing equitable access to sport and opportunity for youth facing barriers. Over a five-week period, the program will provide 170 youth access to sport across a minimum of nine community sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

“We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with Toronto FC and MLSE Foundation,” said Catherine Roche, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Social Impact, BMO Financial Group. “In line with BMO’s Purpose-driven commitment to Boldly Grow the Good in business and in life, through programs like KickStart, we’re supporting youth access to sport and making a positive impact in our communities.”

To learn more about the KickStart program and how to get involved, visit: https://www.mlsefoundation.org/how-we-give/community-programs.

For more information on BMO’s community giving initiatives, visit: https://our-impact.bmo.com/our-practices/community-giving/.

About MLSE Foundation

MLSE Foundation is an organization built on the belief that sport has the power to change the world. With the support of Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto FC, we invest in programs, organizations and communities to empower the next generation to use sport to recognize and reach their potential. Since launching in December 2009, MLSE Foundation has invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities. We fight to provide equitable access to sport and opportunity on the playing field that leads to success and opportunity off the playing field. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. We know that by changing the game, we can change the future. Visit mlsefoundation.org for more information and follow @MLSEFoundation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About BMO

Serving customers for 200 years, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider – the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $973 billion as of January 31, 2021, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

Media contacts:

Nikk Kadbet, MLSE, Nikk.Kadbet@mlse.com

Natasha Boeck, BMO Financial Group, Natasha.Boeck@bmo.com

"
"

"
"

"
"

"
"

"
"

MORE STORIES