BMO Harris Bank Brings Helpful Hands to Collins Academy Through City Year Chicago's Team Sponsor Program

CHICAGO, Oct 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BMO Harris Bank today announced its support of City Year Chicago's Team Sponsor Program, contributing $100,000 to City Year to support corps members at North Lawndale's Collins Academy for the 2011-2012 school year.

The Team Sponsor Program partnership allows organizations to leverage human and financial resources to impact, engage and invest in their local communities through the sponsorship of a team of eight-to-10 City Year corps members. For one year, the City Year corps members commit to tutoring, mentoring and helping students from high-needs schools get back on track for graduation, raising educational awareness and enthusiasm while encouraging higher attendance throughout Chicago schools.

Through this sponsorship, BMO Harris Bank will join City Year's efforts in serving the neighborhoods of Chicago, addressing key community issues and providing innovative and educational resources to help transform and improve the lives of Chicago students. As a result of the partnership, the BMO Harris corps members at Collins Academy will provide 17,000 hours of service this year to the high school's 9th grade students.

"From classroom support to after school programs, the City Year teams not only make a difference in students' grades, but help them build a solid foundation from which they can excel and thrive the rest of their lives," said Mark Furlong, President & CEO, BMO Harris Bank N.A. "Being a City Year Team Sponsor is a perfect fit as it truly embraces what we're all about at BMO Harris Bank -- investing in our communities and setting them up for great success."

"Thanks to the generous support of corporate partners like BMO Harris, we were able to recruit even more corps members to have a greater impact on more students in more classrooms. Because of this generosity, 145 corps members are able to serve 16 schools, impacting 9,000 Chicago Public School students by providing academic interventions, mentoring programs, after school enrichment, and parent engagement initiatives," said Lisa Morrison Butler Executive Director, City Year Chicago.

Most recently, Ellen Costello, CEO, BMO Financial Cop & U.S. Country Head was honored at City Year Chicago's annual 2011 Ripples of Hope dinner for her exceptional commitment to community service and involvement.

Over the past nine years, BMO Harris Bank amplified its support of the Chicago community, investing over $100 million in the city of Chicago and its efforts to strengthen and enhance the well-being of families across the region.

About BMO Harris Bank

Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank has approximately 700 branches and approximately 1,350 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion.

BMO Harris Bank is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Banking deposit and loan products and services are provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Brokerage products are offered through Harris Investor Services, Inc. (HIS), a registered broker/dealer, member FINRA/SIPC, and SEC-registered investment advisor. Insurance products are offered through Harris Bancorp Insurance Services, Inc. (HBIS). Investment banking services are provided by BMO Capital Markets Corp. (BMOCMC) and BMO Capital Markets GKST, Inc. (GKST), a Municipal Bond Dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. Financial planning and investment advisory services are provided by Sullivan, Bruyette, Speros & Blayney, Inc. (Harris SBSB), an SEC registered investment advisor. Family Office Services are provided by Harris myCFO, Inc. Investment advisory services are offered by Harris myCFO Investment Advisory Services LLC (Harris myCFO), an SEC-registered investment advisor and wholly-owned subsidiary of Harris myCFO, Inc. Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors (Stoker Ostler) is an SEC-registered investment advisor. Investment advisory services to institutional clients are provided by Harris Investment Management (HIM) or its wholly-owned subsidiary HIM Monegy (Monegy), SEC-registered investment advisors. Products offered by HIS, HBIS, BMOCM, Harris SBSB, Harris myCFO, Stoker Ostler, HIM, and Monegy, which are affiliated companies and wholly owned subsidiaries of BMO Financial Corp.: Are not insured by the FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, not a deposit of or guaranteed by any Bank or Bank Affiliate, may lose value. The purchase of insurance or an annuity is not a condition to any bank loan or service. Not all products and services are offered in every state and/or location.

SOURCE BMO Harris Bank