Media Advisory: Philanthropy and community leadership will be central themes of Toronto Foundation's annual celebration of local grants

TORONTO, June 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Members of the media are invited to attend the 8^th annual Vital Toronto celebration hosted by Toronto Foundation. More than 400 people, including philanthropists, community and business leaders, will gather to celebrate the recipients of the Foundation's Vital Toronto Fund grants.

Toronto Foundation Chair, John Barford, and President & CEO, Rahul K. Bhardwaj, will also announce the recipient of the annual Martin Connell "Spirit of Philanthropy" Award. The award was launched in 2011 to commemorate Connell's 10 years of leadership as Chair of the Foundation. 

The event will also feature Hillary Marshall, GTAA/Toronto Pearson, and Calvin Kangara, East Scarborough Storefront, in conversation with Matt Galloway about building community connections through "play." Toronto Pearson and East Scarborough Storefront are two of the 17 Playing for Keeps Hubs that have been working with the Foundation to use physical activity and volunteerism to create healthier, more active, and better connected communities.

Matt Galloway, Host of Metro Morning on CBC Radio One will emcee the event.

Who:	John Barford, Chair, Board of Directors, Toronto Foundation
	Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President & CEO, Toronto Foundation
	Hillary Marshall, Vice President, Stakeholder Relations and Communications, GTAA/Toronto Pearson
	Calvin Kangara, Resident Leadership Coordinator, East Scarborough Storefront
When:	Wednesday, June 17, 2015
	9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
	Light breakfast and refreshments will be served from 8:30 a.m.
Where:	Glenn Gould Studio, CBC Broadcasting Centre
	250 Front St West, Toronto, ON M5V 3G5
Visuals:	Over 40 grant recipients

Performance by Ballet Creole, a dance troupe whose work celebrates African and Caribbean cultures. Their performance piece "J'ouvert" is a theatrical display of Carnival celebrations of the Pan-American countries.

Recipients available for interviews include:

• Vital Ideas grant recipient:  Ann Wong, Executive Director of the Canadian Training Institute
• Vital Youth/Playing for Keeps grant recipient: Chris McLean, Regional Director, GTA Services and Operations
• Vital People grant recipient: Calvin Kangara, Resident Engagement Specialist, East Scarborough Storefront
• Vital People grant recipient: Camesha Cox, Managing Director & Founder, The Reading Partnership
• Vital People grant recipient: Miranda Kamal, Executive Director & Program Manager, MJKO (Mentoring Junior Kids Organization)

About Toronto Foundation
Established in 1981, the Toronto Foundation is one of 191 Community Foundations in Canada. We are a leading independent charitable foundation that connects philanthropy to community needs and opportunities. Our individual and family Fundholders support causes they care about in Toronto and across Canada, through grants to any registered Canadian charity. We currently have more than 500 active Funds, including endowments and assets under administration of more than $400 million. A growing number of Torontonians support the Vital Toronto Fund, our community endowment that helps mobilize people and resources to tackle community challenges in innovative and inspiring ways. To find out more, please visit www.torontofoundation.ca

SOURCE Toronto Foundation

Media contact: Simone Dalton, Manager, Media Relations & Communications, Toronto Foundation [email protected], 416-921-2035 ext. 218 (O), 416-809-5036 (C)