MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - During the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank (until August 16, 2015), National Bank and Vasek Pospisil invite tennis fans to take part in the On the Ball program. Spectators are invited to bring their used tennis balls and drop them off in bins set up on the site. The balls will then be distributed to schools to be placed underneath chair legs to muffle noise and thereby create a more learning-friendly environment for students.
"National Bank is very committed to youth and this program is an excellent example of how we can mobilize to support the success of young people. Through this simple gesture of collecting tennis balls from sports fans, we are helping to ensure that students can better concentrate in class," said Jonathan Prunier, Manager, Donations and Sponsorships at National Bank.
To support its efforts related to On the Ball, the Bank is counting on the valuable collaboration of professional tennis star and program co-ambassador Vasek Pospisil. Vasek is hugely successful, winning the Wimbledon doubles tournament in 2014 amongst other highlights, and is currently ranked 49th player in the world. "I am particularly proud to have joined National Bank's On the Ball program and to contribute to its success," said Vasek. "During a tennis match, keeping noise levels down helps you to concentrate and give your best performance, and this is also true of the classroom." said the On the Ball co-ambassador.
Currently in its ninth year, National Bank's On the Ball program has distributed over 1,123,000 used tennis balls to schools in Quebec and Ontario. In 2014, 207,978 balls were collected and distributed in nearly 250 schools. Several tennis club partners (17 in Quebec and 18 in Ontario) are taking part in this initiative. Those attending tournaments sponsored by the Bank also have the option to drop off used tennis balls in on-site bins. For more information about the program and tournament schedule, visit youth.nationalbank.ca/on-the-ball-program.
Every year, National Bank supports hundreds of Canadian organizations through donations and sponsorships. Its One for Youth program provides concrete support to build a prosperous society where kids are healthy and have the tools they need to become good citizens who care about the communities they live in. Over the past five years, National Bank has invested over $12 million to promote education, healthcare and other initiatives aimed at young people. To find out more about the Bank's initiatives, visit youth.nationalbank.ca.
About the Rogers Cup
Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is a prestigious professional tennis tournament organized by Tennis Canada. Since 1881 for the men and 1892 for the women, the best players in the world have showcased their skills on Canadian courts. Only Wimbledon and the US Open have longer histories than this major Canadian stop, which is acknowledged by the tennis world to be one of the best-run tournaments on the Tour. Classified as a Masters 1000 event on the ATP World Tour schedule, Rogers Cup presented by National Bank offers over US $3 million in prize money and attracts the biggest stars in tennis year after year.
couperogers.com
About National Bank of Canada
With $207 billion in assets as at April 30, 2015, National Bank of Canada (nbc.ca), together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. The Bank has more than 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
Image with caption: "Vasek Pospisil, co-ambassador of National Bank'’s On the Ball program, invites spectators to bring their used tennis balls and drop them off in bins set up on the site at the Rogers Cup, presented by National Bank, in Montreal. (CNW Group/National Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150810_C8309_PHOTO_EN_475119.jpg
