Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

I work with Na-Me-Res, a not-for-profit multi-service Indigenous-led organization based in Toronto that is dedicated to serving Indigenous men experiencing homelessness through streets to homes outreach, shelter services, skills training, cultural reconnection and providing affordable housing.

We also operate the Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong Health Clinic that provides primary care services to the Indigenous community across Toronto.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Indigenous people disproportionately experience homelessness in Toronto and across Ontario, and it is critical that this community receives Indigenous-run support that incorporates cultural reconnection into programs, as we do at Na-Me-Res.

Na-Me-Res started out in 1985 as a shelter organization, but the cure for homelessness is affordable housing, so we’ve had to take matters into our own hands – we currently operate 5 affordable housing developments in Toronto, providing 79 deeply affordable units for our clients, Indigenous men who have experienced homelessness. And we are working to build more.

At Na-Me-Res, we believe that success comes from providing a continuum of care – from getting people off the streets, providing healing/life skill/cultural programs, helping provide/secure affordable housing, and providing follow-up supports and job opportunities.

When did you start/join it?

I first started working at Na-Me-Res in 2008 as a shelter Manager and became the executive director in 2011.

What made you want to get involved?

I have always wanted to help homeless Indigenous people. I believe it is a true Canadian tragedy that the First Peoples of this land are experiencing an overrepresentation of homelessness. Before the first settlers came to Canada, there was no Indigenous homelessness. In a Country as wealthy as Canada, Indigenous peoples should not be homeless at all.

What was the situation like when you started?

When I first started at Na-Me-Res, Housing First was a big deal, where if someone was outdoor homeless, you offered them housing first before any other service. Then, once housed, all the other required supports are wrapped around the individual. The Housing First worked very well when there were more affordable housing units available.

How has it changed since?

As the value of real estate increased, it didn’t take too long for the price of rental units to increase as well. The average market rent in any given community is often unaffordable for people who live on social assistance or ODSP. Additionally, with inflation, the cost of groceries has also gone up and is continuing to grow more expensive. Far too many people are having to decide whether to put food on their tables or pay rent.

What more needs to be done?

Affordable housing is the cure for homelessness, so creating more should be the main focus.

How can our readers help?

Some of the ways to help are showing support for new affordable housing or new shelters in their neighbourhoods, saying yes I want this service in my backyard. Maybe doing a coat or clothing drive for a local shelter when the weather starts to get cold.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

The Native Woman Resource Centre; they are about to open a new shelter for Indigenous women who are experiencing homelessness and do a lot of heartfelt work for Indigenous women.

The post Charitable Choices: Steve Teekens of Na-Me-Res appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

Heart to Home Meals is a trusted Canadian brand delivering chef-crafted meals to seniors across Canada, supporting independence, dignity, and comfort at home through a relationship-first delivery model. A key part of our work focuses on supporting veterans as they age at home, including being a registered provider with the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) Access to Nutrition and a proud supporter of the Canadian Legion Poppy Fund. In the last year alone, we were able to provide over 200,000 meals to veterans across the country, while also providing regular, friendly check-ins through our locally owned franchise network.

What problem does it aim to solve?

According to Veterans Affairs Canada, 39% of veterans report a difficult adjustment to civilian life, which can include isolation, limited access to services, and challenges maintaining independence. Our work with veterans aims to address these gaps by ensuring they have reliable access to nutritious, delicious meals and consistent connection with a local franchisee who knows them by name. Heart to Home Meals is part of a growing network of community-based supports helping veterans age with dignity.

When did you start/join it?

We have been serving aging Canadians since 2007 and became registered providers of the Veterans Independence Program in 2009. We’ve also been supporting the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund with annual donations since 2024.

What made you want to get involved?

Something so special about our franchise model is that it allows local community members across Canada to play an active role in supporting seniors and veterans. What we consistently hear from Canadians coast to coast is a desire to continue living at home as they age, and a big part of making that possible is having access to nutritious meals that aren’t a burden to prepare. Many of our franchise owners are seniors themselves who recognized a gap between what their neighbours needed and what was actually available to them. Providing meals is one piece of filling that gap, but equally important is having franchise teams that are deeply connected to the communities they serve — delivering right to the freezer and often staying for a conversation or a cup of tea. Our work is grounded in the belief that veterans and seniors deserve to feel supported, valued, and connected every single day.

What was the situation like when you started? How has it changed since?

When we began serving Canadians in 2007, the conversation around aging at home was far less developed than it is today. Seniors and veterans who wanted to remain independent often found themselves with limited community-based options, particularly when it came to consistent access to nutritious food and regular human connection. The senior population has grown enormously in the years since, and that growth has brought both greater urgency and, encouragingly, greater awareness. Today, there is more recognition from governments, families, and communities alike that aging well at home requires a network of practical, relationship-based supports, and we’re proud to be part of building that.

What more needs to be done?

There is still meaningful work ahead. While programs like the Veterans Independence Program have expanded reach for many veterans, not everyone who qualifies is aware of the support available to them, and navigating those programs can be complicated. We’d love to see greater outreach to ensure veterans know what they’re entitled to and continued investment in locally rooted, relationship-first models of care. The goal isn’t just to keep people fed; it’s to keep them connected, visible, and valued in their communities for as long as possible.

How can our readers help?

Supporting veterans can start right at the community level. Checking in on a neighbour, volunteering your time, or supporting organizations that serve veterans can all make a meaningful difference. Contributions to initiatives like the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund also help ensure veterans continue to receive the care they deserve. And if you know a veteran or senior who might benefit from meal delivery support, you can visit hearttohomemeals.ca to learn more about what’s available in their area.

Do you have any events coming up?

Come say hello to us at the Royal Canadian Legion Dominion Convention in Winnipeg this August!

Where can we follow you?

Website | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

We love supporting The Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund, which plays a vital role in supporting veterans and their families across Canada through advocacy and community programming, ensuring that the sacrifices of those who served are never forgotten.

The post Charitable Choices: Matt Diestl of Heart to Home Meals appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

Support Black Charities is a Canadian nonprofit that helps people find and support Black-led and Black-serving organizations, while also helping those organizations grow and become sustainable.

At its core, our work is guided by a simple idea: what is not seen is not supported.

We operate a vetted online directory that connects donors, volunteers, and companies to organizations doing meaningful work. We also provide capacity-building services like our Business Development Assessment, helping organizations become donor-ready and better positioned for long-term impact.

In addition, we lead initiatives such as the Food Security Fund and the Global Black Philanthropy Initiative to make giving more accessible, intentional, and impactful.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Many Black-led and Black-serving organizations are doing essential work but remain underfunded and under-recognized.

A widely cited finding showed that only about 0.07 cents of every $100 donated by major foundations in Canada reached Black-led organizations. That gap is not just about funding; it is about visibility, access, and infrastructure.

If people cannot find you, they cannot support you.

We exist to bridge that gap by increasing visibility and helping organizations build the systems they need to sustain support once they receive it.

When did you start/join it?

I officially started Support Black Charities in 2018.

What made you want to get involved?

My journey started with a personal experience.

As an Electrical Engineering student, I was supported by the National Society of Black Engineers, based in the USA, a nonprofit that helped me build my network and launch my career. That experience had a lasting impact on my life.

It showed me that nonprofits do more than provide services; they provide access, community, confidence, and opportunity.

From there, I continued doing outreach work in schools, speaking about engineering and careers to black youth, specifically black girls. I wanted to keep contributing, and I started thinking about how I could use my own skills to help at scale.

With my strong interest in digital media, my background in building systems and solving problems, I realized that one of the biggest gaps was visibility and online presence. At the same time, I was inspired by the “Support Black Businesses” movement and began asking, what about Black charities/nonprofits?

That question became the foundation of Support Black Charities. A way to amplify the work already happening in our communities and make it easier for others to discover and support it, both in Canada and globally.

What was the situation like when you started?

When I started in 2018, there was very limited visibility around Black-led organizations, especially in Canada.

There was also a narrow perception of what these organizations looked like or the types of issues they addressed. In reality, the work is incredibly diverse, from education and entrepreneurship to food systems, arts, and community development.

There was no central place to discover these organizations, and information on how to build and sustain a nonprofit was often scattered and not always tailored to Black-serving organizations.

How has it changed since?

There has been a noticeable shift, especially after 2020.

There is more awareness and more conversation, and digital platforms have made it easier for organizations to be seen. Social media has created opportunities for global reach and connection that did not exist before.

At the same time, visibility alone is not enough.

We started primarily as a directory, but quickly realized that organizations also needed structured support. Many leaders are doing incredible work but do not always have access to the tools, knowledge, or systems needed to sustain and scale their impact.

That is why we expanded into services, to help bridge the gap between being visible and being sustainable.

What more needs to be done?

We need to move from moments of awareness to consistent, long-term support.

Too often, giving is triggered by specific events, crises, or moments of heightened attention. While those moments are important, they are not enough to sustain organizations over time.

We need to build a culture where supporting Black-led organizations becomes part of everyday philanthropy.

In the same way that people regularly support the arts, museums, or environmental causes, without waiting for a specific event, we need to normalize ongoing support for Black-led initiatives.

There is also a need to make knowledge more accessible. Many organizations do not know what they do not know; this is where I was. By centralizing information, tools, and support, we can help organizations build stronger foundations and become more self-sufficient. I am building what I wish I had when I started the nonprofits.

How can our readers help?

There are many ways to get involved, starting with the simplest.

Engage with our work online and on social media. Following, sharing, and interacting with organizations on social media increases visibility and shows support. It is one of the easiest ways to make a difference.

Beyond that:

• Discover and support organizations through our directory
• Donate, volunteer, or partner with organizations aligned with your values
• Share opportunities and resources within your network

For those looking to contribute at a deeper level, we are actively seeking partners, collaborators, and funders to help scale our work.

Through our Food Security Fund, we are currently focused on building capacity for community food programs in Toronto and the GTA. This includes addressing key gaps such as storage, logistics, and distribution.

We are looking for seed donors and foundational partners to help us build the infrastructure, team, and systems needed to activate this work at a local level.

Do you have any events coming up?

Yes, the second half of the year is a very important time for our work, and we are currently in the planning phase for several key initiatives.

In August, we participate in Black Philanthropy Month, a global campaign dedicated to encouraging intentional giving and highlighting the impact of Black-led organizations. Within that, August 28 is recognized as Black Giving Day, similar to Giving Tuesday, but focused specifically on supporting Black-serving organizations worldwide.

As we move into September, the focus shifts to food insecurity. September is widely recognized as Hunger Action Month, alongside several related awareness days that highlight the realities many families face, especially during the back-to-school period. It is a critical time to bring attention to food access, nutrition, and the increased demand on community food programs.

Building on that momentum, we are preparing a fundraising and awareness event called Bite Back: A Taste for Change, which will take place in September or October, with the date to be confirmed. This event is directly connected to our Food Security Fund and will bring people together around food, conversation, and solutions.

In October, we will also align with World Food Day on October 16, continuing the conversation at a global level and reinforcing the importance of long-term, sustainable approaches to food security.

Overall, this period from August to October represents a connected journey for us, from philanthropy and giving, to awareness and action, to long-term solutions.

Where can we follow you?

SBC: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Food Security Fund: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

This is honestly a difficult question to answer.

Through Support Black Charities, I see so many organizations doing impactful work across Toronto, Canada, and globally, so it is never easy to choose just one.

While African Food Basket stands out for its work in food security, there are many others making a difference in their own ways. Organizations like Foodpreneur Lab and Desta Black Youth Network are creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and youth, while Federation of Black Canadians continues to advance advocacy at a national level.

We also see strong community impact from One Voice One Team and SSYO (South Shore Youth Organization).

Beyond Toronto, African Cancer Support Society is doing important work in Canada, while organizations like CESAHA and Helpers Social Development Foundation are addressing critical needs in Nigeria. In Kenya, Maji na Ufanisi (Water and Development) is doing impactful work around water access and community development.

There are so many organizations doing meaningful work that often goes unseen, and that is exactly why Support Black Charities exists, to help more people discover and support them.

The post Charitable Choices: Anick Silencieux of Support Black Charities appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

My philanthropic work is rooted in using LDV & CO.’s platform to bring people together around meaningful causes through culture-driven events and community collaboration. This year, our 3rd Annual La Dolce Vita Travel Fashion Show proudly supports Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan, which provides compassionate palliative care and family support for individuals facing life-limiting illness across York Region—helping ensure people receive dignity, comfort, and care when it matters most.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan provides compassionate, specialized palliative care and support services for individuals and families facing life-limiting illness—helping ensure dignity, comfort, and care, while also supporting loved ones through an incredibly difficult time. We aim to support our community with our curated work in travel, events and lifestyle journeys.

When did you start/join it?

We aligned our 2026 La Dolce Vita Travel Fashion Show (April 22, 2026) in support of Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan as our official charity partner for this year’s event. In previous years, we’ve also been proud to support Waves of Changes for Autism, continuing our commitment to giving back through community, culture, and philanthropy.

What made you want to get involved?

Because their work is deeply human and essential. I wanted this year’s show to extend beyond celebration and become a tangible way to give back to the community that supports us—by supporting families when it matters most.

What was the situation like when you started?

When we began planning this partnership, what stood out was how vital hospice care is—and how many people don’t fully understand the breadth of support hospice provides until they personally experience the need for it.

How has it changed since?

Since getting involved, I’ve seen how powerful it is when culture, business, and community leadership come together—not only to raise funds, but also to raise awareness and bring more visibility to hospice care and family support services.

What more needs to be done?

More sustained community education, ongoing funding, and continued advocacy are needed so hospice services can keep pace with growing demand and ensure more families can access compassionate care and support.

How can our readers help?

Readers can help by learning about LDV & Co. and the various charities we support through our events. Follow and spread the word, join if you can. Read more about Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan’s mission, sharing it within their networks, volunteering if they’re able, and supporting through donations or sponsorship—because community support is what strengthens and sustains this kind of care.

Do you have any events coming up?

On April 22, 2026, LDV & CO. brought the spirit of la dolce vita to VENU Event Space in Vaughan with its 3rd Annual La Dolce Vita Travel Fashion Show — an immersive evening where culture-forward fashion, travel-inspired storytelling, and community impact shared the spotlight.

Inspired by the beauty, romance, and artistry of Sicily, the event transported guests through a multi-sensory experience blending runway presentations, Italian hospitality, live entertainment, culinary experiences, and philanthropic purpose.

Supporting Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan

Each year, LDV & CO. selects a charitable organization to support through proceeds generated from the event. The 2026 charity partner was Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan (CHV), which provides compassionate palliative care and family support services for individuals facing life-limiting illness across York Region.

With a sold-out audience of 450 guests, LDV & CO., alongside title sponsor PSP Services and Scotiabank’s Team Community Program, helped raise a total of $25,000 — reinforcing the evening’s greater purpose: bringing people together through beauty, culture, fashion, and celebration while also supporting families during life’s most difficult moments.

For Filomena Lofranco, the partnership reflects a philanthropic approach rooted in connection, compassion, and community collaboration.

“Because their work is deeply human and essential.”

A Community Effort — On and Off the Runway

On May 14, representatives from LDV & CO., Scotiabank, and PSP Services visited Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan to present the $25,000 donation cheque.

Together, the contribution helps provide 50 nights of “Care for a Day” support to members of the community.

Guided by LDV & CO.’s philosophy — luxury as presence, intention, and meaningful connection — the evening unfolded as a travel-inspired runway experience designed to evoke the mood and artistry of Sicily.

Rather than presenting fashion in isolation, each runway segment was framed as part of a larger journey — reminding guests that what we wear can be deeply connected to memory, place, culture, and the way we choose to move through the world.

The evening also featured a best-dressed competition, live performances by Italian-Canadian musicians, immersive visual storytelling, and an Italian-inspired dining experience that further contributed to the atmosphere of celebration and community.

Why Hospice Support Matters

Lofranco notes that hospice care is often not fully understood until a family experiences the need firsthand. That reality helped shape the intention behind aligning the 2026 show with Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan — not only to contribute financially, but also to help broaden awareness of the essential services and compassionate support hospice care provides.

As the demand for hospice services continues to grow, she emphasizes the importance of ongoing community education, sustainable funding, and continued advocacy to ensure more families have access to compassionate end-of-life care and support.

What’s Next

“It was truly a pleasure to produce such a meaningful evening, and I know many people are already asking about next year,” says Lofranco. “Stay tuned — exciting announcements are coming soon.”

Acknowledgements

LDV & CO. extends sincere thanks to all sponsors, vendors, suppliers, volunteers, donors, models, designers, performers, MCs, the production and operations team, and the venue staff whose collective efforts helped bring the 2026 La Dolce Vita Travel Fashion Show to life.

Finally, thank you to every guest who attended, donated, and helped amplify the mission of Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan.

Special thanks to Grace Lombardi and Lenny Lombardi of CHIN Radio/TV International for their continued support and full event coverage.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Cortellucci Hospice Vaughan & Waves of Changes for Autism

The post Charitable Choices: Filomena Lofranco of LDV & CO. appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

RISE Edutainment is an artist-led, community-rooted non-profit founded in Scarborough on April 16, 2012, serving the Greater Toronto Area. For 14 years, RISE has existed as a safe and accessible space where youth and emerging artists can express themselves, connect with others, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

RISE is more than the artists we platform. It is the audiences who show up, the volunteers who help our events and programs run, and the staff we are intentionally building into a passionate, values-driven team. For many people, RISE is the only place they feel they belong. Whether someone is performing, listening, volunteering, producing, or supporting behind the scenes, there is room for them to participate in ways that feel purposeful and affirming.

What began as a weekly open mic has grown into a full community arts and service agency with local and global reach. To date, RISE has existed for 13 years, hosted over 600 live events and 185 virtual events, for a total of more than 785 events. In 2025 alone, we produced 50 events, platforming 198 artists, and creating over 3,000 paid opportunities for emerging artists.

Across our lifetime, RISE has paid approximately $1.98 million in artist fees, including $106,000 paid last year. We have engaged more than 900 program participants, impacted over 4,600 youth through our programs, and reached more than 30,000 people we refer to as intelligent souls. These numbers reflect a community that is alive, growing, and deeply invested in collective well-being.

What problem does it aim to solve?

RISE exists to address systemic barriers to creative opportunity. Many artists have talent but lack access to mentorship, professional networks, industry exposure, funding pathways, and paid performance opportunities. These barriers disproportionately affect Black, racialized, marginalized, and underserved communities across Scarborough and the GTA.

RISE builds infrastructure where artists can practice, be seen, be paid, and grow. We create pathways from community stage to professional platform, while also strengthening the cultural fabric around them.

When did you start/join it?

I joined RISE in September 2012 as an audience member at the weekly RISE Open Mic, which launched earlier that year on April 16, 2012.

What made you want to get involved?

For me, accessibility to the arts was not a given growing up. Creativity was not something we could prioritize when survival came first. That reality is shaped by colonial systems that have historically limited access to resources, education, and creative freedom for many communities. When your energy is focused on making it through, expression often becomes a luxury instead of a right.

RISE became the place where I finally experienced what accessible arts could look like. A space where you did not need money, credentials, or permission to show up. That access mattered. It allowed me to stay connected to creativity at a time when I felt disconnected from myself and my future. It gave me a place to exist, to listen, and eventually to speak.

This work goes beyond performance. What we are doing at RISE actively helps dismantle systems that silence people by creating safe spaces to voice lived experience. Through art, people bring awareness to their mental health, their realities, and the policies that impact their well-being. Expression becomes a bridge between the inner world and the public sphere.

We support artists, we often call artivists because culture moves before policy. Art helps people process internal chaos, release suppressed emotion, and cultivate inner peace. That inner transformation is essential. When people are less overwhelmed internally, they are better able to engage externally, advocate for themselves, and contribute to meaningful social change.

By keeping barriers low through free and pay-what-you-can events, RISE ensures that access is not limited to those with financial privilege. At the same time, we call on those with resources to invest in this work. Supporting community-based arts is not charity. It is an investment in a healthier society where people are self-actualizing, emotionally supported, and empowered to shape the world they want to live in.

This is how systems shift—not only through policy, but through people who feel seen, heard, and whole enough to imagine something better.

What was the situation like when you started?

When I first joined in 2012, RISE operated as a weekly open mic held every Monday. It was one of the most consistent and accessible creative spaces in Scarborough and across the GTA, welcoming both artists and audience members at all stages without gatekeeping.

At the time, Scarborough and Toronto were experiencing high levels of violence, negativity, and instability in many communities. There were limited spaces where young people, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, could gather safely and express what they were going through.

RISE became that space.

It was a place where we could channel our lived experiences into art instead of harm—a place where we kept each other safe, physically and emotionally, by pouring our energy into creativity, connection, and community.

People came from all over the GTA—Brampton, Mississauga, North York, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, and beyond—because there was nothing else like it. It was alive, collective, and necessary.

For me, being an audience member became a bridge. Even when I felt lost, showing up kept me connected to the arts until I was ready to take the next step.

How has it changed since?

Today, RISE has grown into a multi-faceted arts organization that has reached over 30,000 people while staying rooted in its original purpose of creating accessible, culturally relevant spaces for expression and connection.

What began as a platform for creative self-expression has evolved into a foundation for ingenuity and entrepreneurship. We are not only creating spaces for artists to perform—we are creating pathways for them to build sustainable careers. We have developed artist development programs, taught skills like grant writing and fundraising, and created employment opportunities within the organization itself. My own career has been built through this work, directing projects and strategy to sustain and expand what we have created.

What started as an open mic has grown into a full ecosystem.

We now facilitate programs in schools, hospitals, community spaces, and on stages across Canada and internationally, taking artists to places like the UK, Jamaica, Hawaii, and Los Angeles while continuing to build strong local impact.

RISE stands for Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere, and that intention continues to guide us. Through edutainment, we use art as a tool to educate, connect, and empower.

At its core, the spirit of the open mic is still present. It has always been more than a stage—it is a space to think out loud, to transform lived experiences into expression, and to turn barriers into building blocks.

Now, we are seeing those ideas take form. Artists are building careers, launching initiatives, and creating their own spaces, continuing the cycle of impact.

What has changed is the scale.

What has remained is the purpose.

What more needs to be done?

We need deeper, sustained investment in artists and the ecosystems that allow communities to thrive.

During the pandemic, artists were relied on for connection, healing, and truth-telling. There was a renewed appreciation for the arts, but that momentum is fading—even as more artists continue to emerge.

Access must remain central. Audiences need real entry points, which means keeping barriers low. This is why RISE prioritizes free and pay-what-you-can programming. When cost is not a barrier, community shows up.

At the same time, artists need to be paid. They need professional opportunities, mentorship, and consistent platforms to grow and sustain themselves.

We also need policy shifts that recognize the value of investing in the arts at all levels. This includes offering tax incentives not only for charitable donations, but for individuals and businesses actively supporting artists, cultural programming, and creative production.

Beyond funding, we need stronger pathways for artists to enter spaces of influence, including politics and public leadership. Positions such as Poet Laureate should be expanded across more regions, creating opportunities for artists to shape cultural policy and public dialogue.

We also need greater recognition of spoken word and poetry as foundational practices within the music industry. These art forms should be acknowledged and uplifted within major awarding bodies, including platforms like the Junos, as integral to how music is written, performed, and experienced.

What is needed now is not just funding, but intentional investment—investment in spaces, in programming, and in people. Investment that recognizes the arts not as an extra, but as essential infrastructure for healthy, connected communities.

When we support artists, we support healing. When we support audiences, we build community. When we invest in both, we build the future.

How can our readers help?

Readers can support RISE in a number of meaningful ways.

You can attend events by accessing tickets through the website and showing up as an engaged audience member. You can join the volunteer roster and contribute your time and skills to support programs and initiatives.

You can also share RISE’s work across your platforms to help reach more people, or partner on events and community activations. Partnership can take many forms—sponsoring food, providing space, or contributing resources that help create meaningful experiences.

If you are skilled in a creative field such as photography, videography, or production, you can donate your time and talent to document the work while building your portfolio. You can also contribute by leading or donating workshops in artistic expression or creative industries.

There are also opportunities for brands and businesses to partner by activating at events, showcasing products or services, and connecting directly with audiences both in person and online.

Support can also come through giving—donating items to raffles, providing tickets for community members, purchasing blocks of tickets for underserved youth, buying merchandise, or offering financial contributions that allow programs to expand and ensure artists are paid.

Every form of support helps create more access, more opportunities, and more impact through the arts.

Do you have any events coming up?

Yes, several events are coming up. Monthly open mics are hosted in partnership with community organizations across the city. Check out our website for more info.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Newsletter

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Vibes Arts. They have supported RISE Edutainment by providing charitable infrastructure that allows the organization to receive donations in support of its programming. Their commitment to arts access and community-led cultural development has played an important role in strengthening RISE’s impact and sustainability.

The post Charitable Choices: Elle de Lyon of RISE Edutainment appeared first on Toronto Guardian.