CIBC Mellon employees will deliver meals Friday to seniors in the downtown Toronto core as part of the company’s first employee volunteer event in celebration of National Volunteer Week.

“This outreach event is just one of the many planned for this year and kick-starts Together in Action — CIBC Mellon’s community volunteering program,” says Rajesh Uttamchandani, senior vp human resources and corporate affairs. “In 2008, CIBC Mellon employees donated more than 2,500 hours of personal time to volunteering in our communities and we support their efforts.”

The program gives employees an opportunity to make a difference in the community by participating in a structured volunteer opportunity on a quarterly basis, as well as providing team-building volunteer opportunities with various community organizations across the country.

CIBC Mellon has partnered with Mid-Toronto Community Services — Meals on Wheels Program — to launch this event. Mid-Toronto Community Services provides programs that help seniors and disabled or ill adults in the community to remain in their homes and live healthy, dignified and independent lives.

“Support from organizations like CIBC Mellon, its employees and other volunteers help us deliver more than 60,000 meals in a year. These kinds of employee volunteer programs are a win-win situation. They offer recognition for employees and team-building opportunities, while making a very positive impact on our community,” says Kaarina Luoma, executive director, Mid-Toronto Community Services.

The new employee volunteering program complements its corporate social responsibility initiatives in the areas of community, governance, employee engagement and the environment, CIBC Mellon say.

CIBC Mellon is 50-50 jointly owned CIBC and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. It provides asset servicing, multicurrency accounting, information delivery, securities lending and foreign exchange services in Canada.

IE