In the final quarter of the 2005 financial year the Bank of Bermuda Foundation has made $3.2 million in donations to 11 local charities.

In the past few days the Foundation has made its biggest single donation to the Bermuda Housing Trust, a pledge of $2.5 million over the next five years to help with the building of 100 apartments for senior citizens.

Other groups that have been helped by the Bank of Bermuda Foundation include the Bermuda Football Foundation Soccer-Expert Programme to increase the competence of local coaches, particularly those working with young players, and the ninth annual Bermuda International Film Festival which runs from March 17 -25 and has been expanded this year.

The bank foundation also gave a donation to help 170 athletes compete for Bermuda in the Island Games in Shetland last year, the Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association ITF Junior Tournament, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bermuda, Centre of Talented Youth and the Get Fit Foundation.

Others to be given help from the Bank of Bermuda Foundation include the Salvation Army's Harbour Light and Life Skills Programme to help drug addicts rehabilitate and reintegrate in the community, the Wesley Methodist Church's Diversity Handbell Choir and the work of PRIDE Bermuda educating and inspiring youth, parents and adults about the dangers of substance abuse and the benefits of drug prevention.

Since 1989 the Bank of Bermuda Foundation has donated $30 million to charities in Bermuda.