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AMERICAN EXPRESS

IN THE COMMUNITY

Cultural Heritage

At American Express, we believe that serving our communities is not only integral to running a successful business it is part of our responsibility as citizens of the world. Our mission is to bring to life the American Express value of good corporate citizenship by supporting diverse communities in ways that enhance the company's reputation with employees, customers, merchants, business partners and other stakeholders.

We do this by supporting not-for-profit organizations that are:

•     Preserving and enriching our diverse cultural heritage
•     Developing new leaders for tomorrow
•     Encouraging community service where our employees and customers live and
       work

Highlights
    Cultural heritage forms our individual, local and national identities. It shapes relationships with our neighbours and with other communities around the world. At American Express, we believe that respect for and celebration of our diverse cultural heritage promotes human understanding and economic development in an increasingly interdependent world.

    Over the years, the American Express Foundation in Canada has supported projects and organizations that preserve or rediscover important cultural works in order to provide ongoing access and enjoyment for current and future audiences. The programs we support include a broad range of arts and culture, and throughout the years, we have developed relationships with organizations like the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Vancouver Art Gallery.

    Some of our most recent sponsorships include:


    • Signature Partner of the Contemporary Collection Program - Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
      (2008 - 2011)

      American Express has partnered with the AGO on an exciting three-year sponsorship agreement as the Signature Partner of the Contemporary Collection Program. The Contemporary Collection includes 200 works, spanning the 1960s through to today. The installation invites visitors to experience artwork in fresh and exciting contexts,
    engage with the important issues of our time and consider the impact and relevance of contemporary art in both society and our own lives.


    • Winterlude
      (2005 - 2009)

      American Express has been the official partner of Winterlude for four consecutive years. It is one of North America's largest winter celebrations featuring three fun-filled weekends of excitement and activity, including skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway, ice and snow carvings, a giant snow playground and the American Express Snowbowl, an outdoor stage featuring performers from across Canada

    • WinterCity
      (January 26 - February 8, 2007)

      Now, in its fourth year, Toronto's WinterCity festival offers 14 days of city-wide entertainment, culture and cuisine - it's three festivals in one including: The Wild on Winter series which features free outdoor shows, skating and live music; The Warm Up series which features performances and discounts at some of the city's leading cultural and tourist attractions; The Winterlicious culinary program which features prix-fixe menus at more than 130 of Toronto's top restaurants.

Leaders of Tomorrow

At American Express, we appreciate the impact that talented leaders can have on business and we dedicate significant resources to attract, develop and retain talented employees.

Highlights
    Through this giving theme, we are extending our commitment to leadership development to the broader community by supporting programs and partners that provide current and future not-for-profit leaders with practical opportunities to learn and build leadership skills.

    Some of our current sponsorships include:


    • Junior Achievement
      We've had a long-standing relationship with this not-for-profit organization, which is dedicated to helping young people discover leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills so they can reach their highest goals. Through programs like Dream Big, we are helping young students build
    a vision and plan for their future. So far, more than 23,000 students have experienced this inspirational program.


    • Canadian Academy of Travel & Tourism (CATT)
      For more than 12 years, we've supported this high school program that introduces students to the opportunities available in Canada's travel industry. Through the program, students develop entry-level skills and gain valuable hands-on experience in the tourism sector. To date, more than 40,000 students have had exposure to the program and 1,400 student certificates have been distributed across Canada. This program gives students a direct advantage in the tourism sector and in a tourism-related post-secondary program.

Community Service

Whether it's feeding the hungry, cleaning up local parks or painting community shelters, employees of American Express in Canada are always eager to serve their communities through volunteerism and personal financial contributions. We view this activity as an extension of the service ethic that lies at the heart of our business.

In addition to company-driven programs, our employees take their own initiative to collect monetary donations, as well as a variety of goods such as food and clothing items in response to community needs. And, many of them are committed volunteers at a variety of Canadian charities.

Our senior leaders also donate their time and expertise by volunteering on the boards of a number of non-profit organizations, including United Way of York Region, Junior Achievement Canada and the Toronto Children's Breakfast Club

Highlights
    Our ongoing philanthropic initiatives include:


    • Amex Cares Fundraising Campaign
      For more than eight years, our employees have participated in our annual fundraising campaign, which supports the United Way and many other charities across Canada. The 2008 campaign raised more than $590,000 -our biggest fundraiser ever.

    • Amex Cares Events
      For over 14 years, employees of American Express in Canada have been going into the community to volunteer their time and effort. As part of this program, employees help charities across Canada with projects such as painting community shelters, planting trees or providing food for those in need. We are open to new volunteer opportunities that positively impact the community, so if you have an upcoming event that requires volunteers, please contact us.

    • Global Volunteer Action Fund (GVAF)
      We believe in supporting the worthwhile causes our employees are dedicated to and we demonstrate this through GVAF, a program that gives employees the opportunity to apply for a grant from the company to benefit the organizations they regularly volunteer with. In 2008, US$14,900 was awarded to 20 Canadian organizations.

    • Toronto Children's Breakfast Club (TCBC)
      Since its inception in 1984, American Express in Canada has been supporting the TCBC, an organization that provides thousands of children with a healthy breakfast and the energy they need to succeed in school. During these years, we've provided office space and technical assistance to the club free-of-charge, allowing the charity to focus their time and resources on meeting the needs of their community.
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Before Applying

Review the three themes that reflect our funding priorities: Cultural Heritage, Leadership and Community Service.

Please do not submit funding requests for:

1. Individual needs, including scholarships, sponsorships and other forms of financial aid
2. Fundraising activities, such as galas, benefits, dinners, golf tournaments and other sporting events
3. Goodwill advertising, souvenir journals or dinner programs
4. Travel for individuals or groups
5. Sectarian activities of religious organizations
6. Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
7. Books, magazines or articles in professional journals
8. Endowments or capital campaigns
9. Travelling exhibitions (we will only consider each venue on its own)
10. Sports sponsorships

Eligible organizations must:

1. Be registered with Canada Revenue Agency and must be able to document their charitable status.
2. Not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, national origin, disability, handicap, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

Contact Us

Please send your sponsorship request to:

The American Express Foundation in Canada
C/O Amex Canada Inc. 1211 Denison Street, Unit 18
Markham, Ontario
L3R 4B3

If you have further questions around philanthropic or marketing sponsorships, please e-mail us at amexcanadafoundation@aexp.com ®: Used under license from American Express. Copyright ©: Amex Bank of Canada, 2007.