Team Investors Group Kurt Browning Junior Skating Fund launched

Winnipeg, MB - Investors Group, Canada's leading personal financial services organization and four-time world figure skating champion Kurt Browning have joined forces to recognize the country's top amateur skaters.

Investors Group will contribute $100,000 over five years to the Team Investors Group Kurt Browning Junior Skating Fund that will give out cash awards to the junior and novice Canadian amateur figure skating champions. In addition, a new Special Achievement Bursary will be awarded to the skater who has shown the most promise, dedication and sportsmanship over the year. The commitment is an enhancement of a bursary program established by Kurt Browning in 1995.

"Investors Group has a long history of supporting amateur athletics in Canada, and through this initiative we aim to help the country's future National, World and Olympic team members achieve their full potential," said Sandy Riley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Investors Group. "We are especially honoured to be affiliated with Kurt Browning and this important bursary program so together we can further the dreams of the next generation of champions."

"The world of figure skating has been very good to me, which is why I wanted to give something back for the benefit of talented young skaters who are striving to succeed at the championship level," said Browning. "Through this program, we intend to recognize the tremendous amount of dedication and sacrifice involved in becoming a top level athlete, and provide encouragement to help them achieve their goals."

As part of the agreement, Investors Group and Kurt Browning will contribute to the bursary fund, and award seven bursaries of $3,500 in each of the following categories:

• Canadian Novice Mens' champion (one recipient)
• Canadian Novice Ladies' champion (one recipient)
• Canadian Junior Pairs champions (two recipients)
• Canadian Junior Dance champions (two recipients)
• Special Achievement Bursary (one recipient)

Investors Group recently announced that it has entered into a two-year endorsement agreement with Kurt Browning, during which the skater will make personal appearances and be involved in various sponsorship programs with the company.

These agreements are in addition to the company's ongoing sponsorship with Chrysler Stars on Ice presented by Investors Group, of which Browning is the headline performer.

Investors Group is a national leader in providing personal financial planning services to more than one million Canadians. In addition to a unique family of mutual funds and other investment vehicles, Investors Group offers a wide range of mortgage and insurance options. Investors Group has nearly 3,700 Consultants in 100 Financial Planning Centres across Canada and manages more than $40-billion in assets.