Social Venture Partners Toronto welcomes The Right Honourable Paul Martin

Toronto, ON – October 20, 2009 – Social Venture Partners (SVP) Toronto welcomes The Right Honourable Paul Martin, as he shares his personal journey of philanthropy. Mr. Martin joins SVP Toronto as part of the organization’s Philanthropic Education Program, which aims to provide partners with educational opportunities to help them become informed, effective, lifetime philanthropists.

Since his career in politics, Mr. Martin has been involved in a number of philanthropic activities, with a focus on poverty alleviation in both Africa and Canadian Aboriginal communities.

“SVP Toronto has played a vital role in bringing innovation to the philanthropy sector in Toronto.  Through multi-year grants and the partners' hands-on volunteering Toronto is benefiting from this new form of giving back," said Mr. Martin. “As an organization that supports capacity building to strengthen the sustainability of these local non profits, I believe Social Venture Partners offers an innovative and strategic approach to giving that moves beyond traditional chequebook philanthropy and enriches both the community and the partners alike.”

SVP Toronto’s current investees (partner organizations) are Eva’s Phoenix Printshop and MicroSkills. In addition to receiving multi-year funding from SVP Toronto, these organizations are being supported in such areas as managing organizational change, leadership development, volunteer development, program development and marketing and brand development. This November, SVP Toronto partners will select a third organization in which to invest.

What:           
The Right Honourable Paul Martin shares his personal journey of philanthropy with Social Venture Partners Toronto

When:          
Friday, October 23, 2009 – 5:30 pm
Reception – 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Keynote and Partner Q&A – 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Media Q&A – 7:30 - 7:45 pm

Where:        
Toronto Lawn Tennis Club - 44 Price St.

Who:            
The Right Honourable Paul Martin
More than 65 Toronto philanthropists and guests

About Paul Martin

The Right Honourable Paul Martin was the twenty-first Prime Minister of Canada from 2003 to 2006. Currently, Mr. Martin is the co-chair, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, of a two hundred million dollar British-Norwegian poverty alleviation and sustainable development fund for the ten-nation Congo Basin Rainforest. He also sits on the advisory council of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, an initiative that examines critical issues facing the continent. It is sponsored by the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank.

Domestically, he is responsible for two new initiatives. First, the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative aims at reducing the Aboriginal youth dropout rate and at increasing the number of Aboriginal students attending post-secondary institutions. Secondly, he founded with his son David, the Capital for Aboriginal Prosperity and Entrepreneurship Fund, which helps establish and grow successful Aboriginal businesses both on and off reserve.

About Social Venture Partners Toronto (www.svptoronto.org)

Formed in November 2007, Social Venture Partners Toronto is a diverse network of professionals who are pioneering a new model of giving - venture philanthropy. The group's aim is to bring its collective expertise and resources to innovative nonprofits in Toronto, collaborating with them to strengthen their organizations and expand their capacity to transform local communities. SVP Toronto is a chapter of Social Venture Partners International.

For more information, media passes or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Robin Cory, SVP Toronto, Leadership Committee
(416) 999-1843
robin.b.cory@gmail.com

OR

Natasha Alleyne-Martin, SVP Toronto, Partner
(647) 404-0949
Natasha1222@gmail.com