Corporate Citizen of the Year – Winner
BMO Harris Bank
770 N. Water St., Milwaukee
BMO Harris Bank has a longstanding tradition of giving back to local communities.
In 2015, the company donated more than 19,000 hours – 2,400 workdays of service – to charitable organizations companywide. That excludes the number of hours BMO employees spent serving as board members or on organization committees.
Additionally, BMO Harris has infused more than $2 million in grant funding in the Milwaukee area through its work with organizations like United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, United Performing Arts Fund, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin and Marquette University, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee.
The bank has an entire department dedicated to promoting and facilitating employee philanthropic activity, said Jud Snyder, president of BMO Harris
Equipment Finance Co.
“It represents the bank’s commitment to actively engage in local communities and captures the essence of a company and its employees that care and understand that it takes generosity in money, time and spirit to help break the cycle of poverty and build stronger communities,” Snyder said.
In the Milwaukee community, employees volunteer for BMO’s annual Volunteer Day of Service. The cause, started in 2001, recently organized efforts for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, Hunger Task Force, Urban Ecology Center, Literacy Services of Wisconsin, United Way and UPAF.
Not only does the bank encourage employees to give back, but it also regularly provides opportunities to do charitable work during business hours.
“We believe in harnessing our employees’ collective energy and talent to create a broader, more positive impact in local communities,” Snyder said.
Through individual branch locations, BMO Harris can touch the immediate surrounding neighborhoods.
Community outreach is addressed as a key performance metric, and bank managers are required to develop and enhance BMO’s profile by building strong relationships with community-based organizations.
“A commitment to acting responsibly and doing the right thing is integral to the business of our organization,” Snyder added. “BMO’s strategic priorities are grounded in a fundamental sense of responsibility that includes all stakeholders – customers, employees, communities and shareholders – whose support is essential for our continued success.”
