The HSBC Arts Umbrella Environmental Education Program will be offered at Arts Umbrella’s South Surrey location starting November 19, 2013. The outreach program, which was previously offered only at Arts Umbrella’s Granville Island location, was able to grow thanks to HSBC Bank Canada’s increased annual donation from $50,000 to $75,000 for the 2013/14 year. HSBC has been a donor to Arts Umbrella since 1984 and has sponsored the Environmental Education Program since 2001.

“HSBC’s increased contribution means even more kids in Metro Vancouver will have access to Arts Umbrella’s quality arts programing,” said Tammy Danforth, Senior Director of Philanthropy. “We are thrilled to have HSBC’s continued support as we continue on our mission of inspiring kids for life through the arts.”

Last year, the program reached approximately 900 students from 30 schools who would otherwise not have access to Arts Umbrella programs. It is estimated that the expansion of the HSBC Arts Umbrella Environmental Education Program to Arts Umbrella’s South Surrey location will reach an additional 600 students from roughly 20 more schools in the Lower Mainland in 2013/14.

HSBC Arts Umbrella Environmental Education Program is an outreach program offered free of charge to elementary schools in the Lower Mainland. The program helps children develop critical thinking skills and an awareness of environmental issues through movement, media arts and 3D sculpture projects.

Students respond artistically to an environmental topic and explore their impact on the planet.

About HSBC Bank Canada

HSBC Bank Canada, a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, is the leading international bank in Canada. With around 6,600 offices in 80 countries and territories and assets of US$2,723bn at 30 September 2013, the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.

About Arts Umbrella

With a mission of “inspiring kids for life through the arts”, Arts Umbrella is a not-for-profit centre for arts education, offering a wide breadth of tuition based and free-of-charge visual, applied, and performing arts programming for young people. For more information about Arts Umbrella, visit www.artsumbrella.com.

Arts Umbrella contacts are available for interviews. To arrange for interviews and for more information about the HSBC Environmental Education Program, please contact:

Arts Umbrella South Surrey
The Shops at Morgan Crossing
116-15850 26 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3S 2N6
Phone: 604-535-1127
Email: surrey@artsumbrella.com