BMO Capital Markets’s latest initiative to donate a day’s worth of trading commissions raised over $1 million for eight education-focused charities, the firm said Friday.

BMO pledged to donate its institutional equity commissions generated in the U.S. and Canada on September 25 to charity through its Equity Through Education program.

On Friday, it said that it will be donating $1.1 million to the eight charitable organizations that aim to provide greater access to education for disadvantaged youth through scholarships, bursaries and other programs.

This represents the program’s ninth year and, in that time, it has raised $13.4 million; which, the firm says, has assisted more than 2,500 individuals.

“We are really trying to do things that are tangible for our youth, things that make a difference and which can actually be measured according to observable results,” said Eric Tripp, president of BMO Capital Markets. “Equity Through Education is a testament to our firm’s commitment to creating a diverse and equitable workplace. We want to congratulate our entire Equity Products team — as well as our clients — for stepping up and demonstrating the leadership, dedication and commitment that are essential to making this program successful.”

The charities receiving the donation include: Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, The Financial Women’s Association, The Jackie Robinson Foundation, Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth, Indspire, Lime Connect, Pathways to Education Canada, and Women in Capital Markets.