National Bank Donates $2.5 Million to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation

MONTREAL, June 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to youth by announcing a $2.5 million donation to the Healing More Better fundraising campaign launched by the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. This financial support is mainly earmarked for the creation of a research chair in cardiovascular genetics.

The Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine is an international leader in cardiovascular genetics. As well as ensuring continuity in cardiovascular genetics research project financing, the new chair will help maintain and broaden the cardiovascular disease tissue sample biobank which is an essential and critical component that must be present to support this realm of research.

"National Bank has been a proud partner of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation for a very long time and many of our employees are volunteers for the causes it supports," stated Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer of National Bank, who attended the research chair inauguration. "Helping to ensure the well-being of our society's youth is one of our priorities and that is why I am pleased to announce an exceptional donation of $2.5 million that will enhance research and the care provided to the young patients of the Sainte-Justine university hospital centre."

To provide an enduring reminder of this financial support, Mr. Vachon also joined two young patients in unveiling a work of art that was donated by the Bank and will be installed permanently in the cardiology clinic waiting room. In the form of a heart, the artwork was made possible by a collaboration between the RGB artist collective and a group of children from Sainte-Justine.

Each year, National Bank supports hundreds of Canadian organizations through donations and sponsorships. It is particularly committed to young people through its One for Youth program, ensuring they are healthy and have the tools they need to become engaged citizens committed to building a better world. Thanks to the youth program and various key projects to promote entrepreneurship, diversity and culture, the National Bank received the Outstanding Enterprise of the Year in Philanthropy award in the "over 250 employees" category from the Quebec chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. To learn more about the initiatives supported by the Bank and its employees, visit youth.nationalbank.ca.

About National Bank of Canada
With $194 billion in assets as at January 30, 2014, National Bank of Canada (www.nbc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. The Bank has close to 20,000 employees and is widely recognized as a top employer. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities via social media and learn more about its extensive community involvement at clearfacts.ca and commitment.nationalbank.ca.

SOURCE National Bank of Canada