Past Events
SVP Toronto Information Session
This gathering is an opportunity to:
- Meet partners in our network of passionate people helping Toronto & learn what SVP gives them;
- Understand SVP’s mission to improve the organizational effectiveness of non-profit organizations and educate ourselves to be more effective donor-volunteers;
- Find out about the SVP model of pooling time and charitable donations;
- Hear SVP Toronto's strategy and growth to date;
- Learn about how you can volunteer with our community-based non-profit partners or support SVP Toronto on a committee.
A Morning Talk - Rocco Rossi Discusses his Philanthropic Journey
There are many Torontonians interested in giving back and helping to make our city a better place and aren’t sure where or how to start.
Social Venture Partners Toronto (SVPT) invites notable representatives to share their personal philanthropic journey with Torontonians. This year, on June 10th, SVPT is pleased to host Rocco Rossi to share his story of leaping from a successful business career into non-profit leadership. Mr. Rossi is a strong proponent for charitable giving and a passionate philanthropist, a successful entrepreneur and champion fundraiser, dedicated to public service.
SVP Toronto invites you to join us for a morning coffee, meet like-minded people and be inspired by the journey of an individual who chose to give back and make a difference in Toronto.
Tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased at our secure Gifttool page.
More about Rocco Rossi – From humble beginnings to a record of success in education, business and public service. Born and raised in Toronto, Rocco is the eldest child of Domenico and Domenica Rossi who emigrated from Italy knowing little English. Growing up in a household where dollars were precious gave Rocco high respect for hard-earned dollars. Rocco’s parents believed in the power of education, and Rocco earned scholarships to attend Upper Canada College, McGill and Princeton universities.
Rocco’s business experience includes senior executive roles at The Boston Consulting Group, the Toronto Star, Labatt/Interbrew, Advanced Material Resources (now Neo Materials Technologies Inc.– TSX:NEM) and MGI Software.
After losing a friend to a heart attack, Rocco decided to leave the private sector. Initially he managed John Tory’s 2003 campaign for mayor of Toronto, and in 2004, became CEO of the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation where he kayaked, biked and climbed to raise funds and led the campaign to put heart defibrillators in public places. In 2009, he helped triple the national Liberal party’s membership and increase donations. Currently he is standing for mayor in the October 2010 municipal election. Rocco is active with many local charities, including Rotary International and the Young Presidents Association.
Please note that in the unfortunate event that you cannot attend – substitutions are welcome, but no refunds will be given.
All Partners Meeting and Investee Showcase
Our three investees and our lead partners will talk about projects undertaken and the organizational capacity improvements our partners have supported. Learn how we’re making a difference for Skills for Change, MicroSkills Community Development Centre and the Phoenix Print Shop at Eva’s.
SVP Toronto Orientation
This orientation will be an opportunity to:
- Learn more about the SVP model and how our Partners engage with each other and Toronto agencies in education and active philanthropy;
- Understand SVP Toronto's overall strategy, history, accomplishments to date;
- Learn about how you can volunteer directly with the charitable agencies as part of team or support SVP Toronto on one of our committees;
- Learn why we chose Poverty Reduction as our focus; and,
- Meet some of our Partners who want to give back to Toronto.
Refreshments will be served.
The next orientation will be on June 22.
Social Enterprise: Opportunities and Challenges
We have arranged for a stimulating panel of Toronto experts:
- Allyson Hewitt, Director of Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Generation at MaRS
- Tonya Surman, Executive Director, Centre for Social Innovation
- Anne Jamieson, Program Manager, Toronto Enterprise Fund, United Way of Greater Toronto
- Andrew Macdonald, Eva's Phoenix, (founder Eva's Phoenix Print Shop--SVPT investee)
During this session, we will be discussing various models of social ventures, both non-profit and for-profit, that sell goods or provide services in the market for the purpose of creating both a social and financial return. We will look at issues related to the funding and policy environment and what types of support is needed to help these organizations succeed and grow. This is an exciting and growing area and we are fortunate to have some of Toronto's thought-leaders and social entrepreneurs joining us for the session, both as guests and on the panel.
This will be a perfect event to which to invite others whom you think might be interested in joining SVP. Please pass this on to colleagues and friends.
