This year’s 33rd CIBC Miracle Day raised $5.5 million for children’s charities across Canada and around the world, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has announced.

The CIBC Capital Markets team and CIBC Wood Gundy investment advisors — alongside celebrity guests — rally each year, on the first Wednesday of every December, to donate their trading fees and commissions to make miracles happen for kids-in-need.

Events were held in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, New York, London and Hong Kong, and this year, celebrity guests included Hollywood actor Billy Baldwin, former UFC Champion George St-Pierre, NFL Alumni Eddie George, former Calgary Flame Theo Fleury, and home renovation guru Scott McGillivray.

“Each donation has a tremendous impact on improving the lives of children around the world,” says Harry Culham, senior executive vice president and group head, capital markets, and chairman of the CIBC Children’s Foundation, in a statement.

“It’s amazing to think about how much CIBC Miracle Day has grown since 1984,” adds Peter Lee, managing director and head, CIBC Private Wealth Management and CIBC Wood Gundy. “It started with a vision by a single CIBC Wood Gundy leader, who brought together a group of investment advisors to pursue his dream of giving every child joy during the holiday season. He believed we could make miracles happen, and here we are, still helping kids who need it most.”

CIBC Miracle Day has raised over $246 million since it began in 1984.

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