BMO employee-led Bear’s Paw tournament helps kids

Manitoba Bank of Montreal (BMO) employees are continuing a long tradition of going above and beyond their day jobs to volunteer their time to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

“Every year it’s a constant fulfillment of invigorating ourselves to support the cause and do more,” says Blair Doell, Vice President, BMO Financial Group and past committee co-chair.

The Bear’s Paw Charity Golf Tournament is a BMO employee-led fundraising initiative that started in 1987 and has run annually since its inception, raising over $1.5 million for families in hospital. The tournament is a day of golf, prizes, shared stories, and connecting with the community. All proceeds raised at the tournament go towards helping sick and injured kids who need HSC Children’s Hospital.

“It impacts so many of us,” says Anthony Maros, Senoir Private Banker, Private Wealth Group and Bear’s Paw tournament co-chair. “We’ve had various leaders over the years at BMO participate on the Foundation board, and we have significant participants at this event that have had children use the Children’s Hospital.”

Each year the committee has a goal to raise more money than the last, bring awareness to the needs of sick and injured children, and enjoy a fun day out of the office with people impacted by HSC Children’s.

“It’s ingrained in our culture to want to give back to the Children’s Hospital,” says Blair. “We see the benefit of it from what we donate every year.”

The day of golf is followed by dinner and speeches from BMO representatives and a child who has needed the hospital – the highlight of the day for many participants.  

“The thing that hits me the most every single year is sitting at the head table looking up at the Champion Child share their story,” says Todd Lawrence, Senior Relationship Manager. “That’s always the most impactful thing for me.”

Todd has been involved with the tournament since he started at BMO seven years ago and is stepping in as co-chair in the upcoming tournament this June 2023.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, the committee continued the tournament’s fundraising efforts virtually because they know the impact funds make for children and families.

“There are people out there still in need,” says Blair, outgoing co-chair and tournament committee member. “Children are still in need of all basic services. So we had to do something.”

Blair says the first year the tournament was back in-person they broke the record of funds raised the previous year, and their goal is to do that onward.

Last year, the group raised over $80,000 and they hope to top that in 2023.

“I think this tournament is so much bigger now,” says Anthony. “It’s one of those days of the year that I look forward to the most because there’s a lot of collaboration.”

From clients, partners, employees, and families, the goal is to continue to raise as much as they can for sick and injured children through the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

“I feel the true impact of what the Children’s Hospital and the Foundation does to help kids and families,” says Todd. “I’m looking forward to raising as much money as possible and seeing all the extra time that people are putting in for the cause this year.”

“It’s ingrained in our culture to want to give back to the Children’s Hospital,” says Blair. “We see the benefit of it from what we donate every year.”