Hallowe'en revellers in more than 60 communities across Canada came out in their wildest costumes in support of kids

TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2012 /CNW/ - As vampires, witches, and ghouls of all kinds descended on bowling alleys across the country this weekend, young people throughout Canada got a big boost of help and hope.

The 2012 BMO Boolathon in support of Kids Help Phone raised an astounding $1.1 million this weekend, all of which will go towards ensuring that professional counsellors are available 24/7.

Hundreds of BMO employees, friends, families, and community members helped raise funds for Kids Help Phone.

"The BMO Boolathon started as a one-off event in 1991," says Sharon Wood, President  & CEO, Kids Help Phone. "To see it go from such humble beginnings and evolve into a national success is profoundly inspiring. The Boolathon's success is a strong indication that we, as a community of caring friends and colleagues, parents and neighbours, see providing support and hope to young people as a major priority. Together, through events such as the Boolathon, we can raise not only much-needed awareness about youth mental health, but raise funds to ensure that service is available when young people find the courage to reach out."

Young people reach out to Kids Help Phone professional counsellors 5,000 times a week on average. They trust the anonymous, confidential service will always be there, 24/7, just a click or a call away whenever they need it most.

"The Boolathon just keeps getting bigger and better every year thanks to the commitment BMO employees have to ensuring children have access to this essential counselling service," said Richard Rudderham, Executive Vice-President and Head of Human Resources, BMO Financial Group. "It truly is a community effort, and we are thrilled that so many people continue to support this important cause."

About Kids Help Phone
Since 1989, Kids Help Phone has been Canada's leading online and phone counselling service for youth. It's free, it's anonymous and confidential, and it's available any time of the day or night, 365 days a year in English and in French.  Professional counsellors support the mental health and well-being of young people, ages five to 20, by providing one-on-one counselling, information and resources.  As a community-based national charity, Kids Help Phone receives no core government funding and relies on community and corporate support to fund its essential and vital service.

To learn more about Kids Help Phone, please visit www.kidshelpphone.ca.

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About BMO
As a Founding Sponsor, BMO Financial Group has expressed unwavering commitment to Kids Help Phone since its inception in 1989. BMO is proud to be the title sponsor of the BMO Boolathon in support of Kids Help Phone, a fun and highly successful fundraising event created by a group of BMO employees in 1991. In 2011, the event was hosted in close to 50 sites across the country, raising $1.1 million to help fund essential phone and online counselling services for children throughout Canada. BMO also supports a number of local Kids Help Phone events.

SOURCE Kids Help Phone