Victor Dahdaleh Supports London School and Park Project

LONDON, August 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Victor Dahdaleh, the international businessman and philanthropist, has teamed up with TD Securities via his charitable organisation - the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation - to donate Canadian maple trees to Battersea Park and a new library to a local school.

An avenue of Canadian maple trees has been planted in Battersea Park thanks to generous support from two prominent members of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce.

Following a request for sponsorship by the Friends of Battersea Park, the Canadian High Commission called on the Chamber of Commerce to step in and approach its membership. Keen to participate were the prominent businessman and philanthropist Victor Dahdaleh, President of the Chamber, and the Canadian investment bank TD Securities.

Their donations to the scheme have resulted in the creation of the 'Maple Leaf Walk' - an avenue of thirty two red maples that has replaced the decaying acacias that had been there since the early 20th century.

A commemorative plaque was unveiled by local school children at a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Wandsworth and Councillors Thom and Grimston, along with representatives of Battersea Park, the Canadian High Commission and the Chamber of Commerce.

Victor Dahdaleh and TD Securities also made a sizeable joint donation to Falconbrook Primary School in Battersea. The funds will be used to redevelop the school's library.

Victor Dahdaleh said: "Falconbrook School is going from strength to strength in spite of the odds against it and I feel sure that our donation will equip its pupils with the means to achieve even more, both educationally and personally."

Geoff Alder, Head of Europe & Asia-Pacific, TD Securities said: "The planting of the Canadian maple trees is symbolic to us being a Canadian bank and to tie this in with something so beneficial to so many local children makes it a real triumph."

A Canadian-themed painting competition was held at Falconbrook to encourage local children to learn about Canada and engage with the two initiatives. The two best young artists were chosen to unveil the Maple Leaf Walk, with twenty runners-up receiving prizes of book tokens which were presented by Victor Dahdaleh and Geoff Alder.

Nigel Bacon, Executive Director of the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce added: "It is fantastic to see the Canadian business community contributing to London life in this way, and the Chamber is delighted to play a role in bringing our members together in partnership with the local community."

Victor Dahdaleh has a long history of philanthropic activity in education having founded the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Charitable Foundation, an organisation that seeks to improve access to education and healthcare. The Foundation funds scholarships at several universities to enable young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue higher education, and supports a wide range of medical research programmes including cancer research and the Heart and Lung Foundation. It is also involved in schemes to promote the social and economic development of poorer countries.

Victor Dahdaleh is one of the most significant donors to the London School of Economics, where he has been a governor since 1995, and is a trustee and long term donor to the William J Clinton Foundation, whose activities have provided educational opportunities to over ten million children around the world.

For more information, please visit: http://www.victordahdaleh.com/

SOURCE Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce