September 23, 2010

The Toronto Community Foundation is the 2010 recipient of the Greater Toronto Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals’ “Outstanding Foundation” award. The award is one of seven given out by AFP every year. The AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Philanthropy Awards are a celebration of the outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support made by organizations and individuals, who have set excellence benchmarks in encouraging the spirit of giving. Nominations are submitted by AFP Greater Toronto Chapter members on behalf of the organization where nominees have made a difference through their volunteer or philanthropic efforts. Recipients are chosen by the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Award Selection committee and include individuals, foundations and corporate philanthropists, civic and service philanthropic organizations, professional fundraising executives, and non-profits.

The Toronto Community Foundation was nominated by Pati Greenwood, Vice-President, Resource Development, Pathways to Education Canada. Pathways is a previous recipient of Vital Ideas grants from the Community Foundation in support of education programs targeting youth from the disadvantaged communities of Regent Park, Rexdale, and Lawrence Heights.

“With a unique mandate to provide capacity-building grants to not-for-profits, the Toronto Community Foundation has been instrumental in enabling organizations, such as Pathways, to grow and achieve strategic priorities,” said Greenwood.

Mayor David Miller and Chris Spence, Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board were among the individuals who submitted letters in support of the nomination. In his letter, Mayor Miller called the Toronto Community Foundation an “invaluable resource for the city” and described its leadership as “exemplary”.

“It is an honour to be nominated and selected for this award,” said Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President & CEO, Toronto Community Foundation. “Our ability to generate meaningful impact in our communities would not be possible without the support and trust of our family of fundholders and donors and our many community partners.”

For a full list of award recipients, please visit www.afptoronto.org.