Jenny Foster, Manager, Foundation Partnerships, CNIB
and Rhonda Underhill-Gray, Program Lead, CNIB
Topic: CNIB
Host: Mark McQuitty
Want to join the meeting -- email: office@rotarytoronto.com
or use Linktree link below
Virtual Meeting Time: Members Segment Login Time: 12:00 Noon, Guests: 12:15pm to 1:15 PM
Jenny Foster, CFRE, Manager, Foundation Partnerships, CNIB (she/her)
Jenny has worked in the non-profit world for over 15 years. After being inspired at an early age by her Grandmother, Jenny has devoted her life to building a safer, more equitable and peaceful world. She has held fundraising roles across various sectors, including education, food security, social services and politics. She is currently Manager, Foundation Partnerships at CNIB. J enny has a strong commitment to volunteerism. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Scarborough and chair of their Environmental Action Committee. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Housing Help Centre in Scarborough and the Steering Committee of Jane's Walk. For more than ten years, Jenny also held the role of Executive Director at West Hill Harvest, a local Scarborough food security organization.
Rhonda Underhill-Gray, Program Lead, CNIB
Rhonda is a Program Lead for the CNIB who will tell everyone who will listen that she has the best job ever. She works with children, families and educators to provide services and programs that have impact on the lives of persons with vision loss. Rhonda has lived with vision loss for all her life. She believes that providing children with the technology programing and social opportunities gives them a more equalized playing field when it comes to education and effective relationship building. As a parent of two Rhonda’s interest in parenting and family dynamics provides her with the experience and resources to lead and facilitate parent groups. Rhonda is no stranger to community volunteer work. As a scout leader, a volunteer coordinator for the Canadian council of the blind, and a CNIB vision mate program volunteer, she believes that giving back to the community is more than just a job. Rhonda’s work history includes Employment specialist for CNIB for 18 years and Group facilitator and job developer for a youth shelter employment program for over 8 years.
Special Guest this Friday - President of the Rotary Club of Kyiv - Kyrylo Pesenkov
Kyrylo PESENKOV
President Rotary Club Kyiv 21/22, D-2232
General manager Saint-Gobain CP Ukraine ( know as CertainTeed in the US/Canada) since 2015
Financial background with Saint-Gobain, Publicis, and adidas
Making a direct impact with Ukraine Aid – You can join in the $15,000 Matching grant!
ShelterBox is looking at providing both shelter within Ukraine for people who have been displaced and aid packages with essentials like blankets, solar lights, sleeping mats and so on, for refugees who make it out of the country. Our Club's President and Our Charitable Foundation's President under joint authority have approved $15,000 towards this aid via ShelterBox.
This just in - You can help – Our Foundation Board has approved a matching campaign of An Additional up to $15,000. If you choose to help, your donations will be matched $ for $ up to $15,000.
Please check out our great club report on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Upcoming Meetings!
March 18 - A hybrid meeting - National Club - must register
The Rotary Foundation (Canada) Polio Campaign Celebration
Guest Speakers: John F. Germ, Chair 2021-22, Trustee 2018-22
Hendreen Dean Rohrs Trustee 2020-23
Richard (Rick) Goldsmith, President/Chair
Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation
March 25 - another hybrid meeting! - National Club - must register
Topic: War Tourist, Memoirs of a War Correspondent
Guest Speaker: Hilary Brown, War Correspondent
Highlighting our New Directors for 2022-25
This Week: Marcy Berg
Marcy joined the Cobourg Rotary Club in 2004 where she was active in Community and International Services. She played a large role in the organization of their Sportsman's Night Gala.
Since moving to Toronto in 2013 she transferred to our club where she chaired the Women's Initiatives Committee 2015-17, was a member of Marketing and Communications (our twitter expert) 2015-17 and a member of Community Service Committee in 2016-17
From her How We Hobby we know she loves exploring and walking in our downtown area but also has her heart in Prince Edward Island.
We are Moving! Thank You to Last Friday's Team!!
There is still so much to do and little time. Can you spare a few hours next week - Monday and Wednesday. Contact Carol.
Helpers Andy Wedderburn, Dawn-Marie King, Marcy Berg, Anisa Nazir, Jackie Davies and Essam. Maureen and Gerry Bird were there too.
Camp Scugog is on! - Fingers Crossed
May 27-29, Mark the date. We have really missed this special weekend the past two years.
A weekend of getting the kids camp into shape (no skills required), making friends and enjoying gourmet meals prepared by our Rotarian chefs.
Open to Rotarians and Rotaracts only
New Member - Abigail Brown
Abigail Brown was born in Montreal, Canada and moved to Toronto with her parents and younger brother at the age of eight.
With almost 20 years of experience in marketing and communications, Abigail is currently Director of Marketing and Communications with an Ontario regulatory body and most recently worked in the healthcare sector. She has held senior leadership positions for hospital foundations.
With a focus on purpose-based organizations – particularly in the not-for-profit space – Abigail has built an impressive career at organizations such as Ovarian Cancer Canada, the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada, Plan International in Canada and Community Living Ontario, with a senior manager role at Scotiabank to round out her experiences. She holds an Honours BA in English and Sociology from the U of T.
Abigail is an avid consumer of news and current events, she believes strongly in giving back to the community and has enjoyed volunteering with her local church, women’s shelters and other local causes, and with her alumni associations at U of T. She enjoys reading fiction and somehow, endures a love-hate relationship with her very moody cat, Didi.
New Member - Kwami Ahiabenu
Kwami Ahiabenu (Ph.D.) was born in Ghana and he is a leader with over 20 years of proven experience working in non-profit, government, and private sectors.
As a tech innovations expert, he has consulted for several international organizations and serves on a number of boards. He is a holder of Steve Biko, Highway Africa, and Foster Davies Fellowships.
He served as the co-chair of the African Media Forum on Geospatial Information Systems (AMFGIS) under the auspices of the United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA).
In 2013, he was awarded Reagan Fascell Fellowship to recognize his work in promoting democracy in Africa by National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA, named after President Ronald Reagan and Florida’s congressman Dante Fascell.
He enjoys, brisk walks, swimming, farming, reading and is also a writer.
Kwami loves to give a helping hand to others and hopefully his membership with The Rotary Club of Toronto will support his life of service.
Environmental Service Working Group
Were you engaged by our recent speaker, Kathleen McLaughlin, in learning how we can help make a positive impact on environmental issues (and in your businesses)?
Did the Q&A between President Prince and Kurt Kroesen inspire you to get involved directly, in our Club?
If so – the Environmental Service Working Group would love to welcome you to join our ranks!
We are a small but energised group of individuals, seeking projects and partnerships in our city focused on the environment. And as both Kurt & Kathleen aptly described, these are often complementary to initiatives being considered by our other Working Groups.
If there is one thing we have been reminded of the last two years, it is the importance and incredible positive impact that having access to nature can have on our personal well-being.
Come, join us online and find out how you can help.
Save the date! After a two year absence, the St. Patrick’s Parade is scheduled to return to Toronto on Sunday, March 20 at 12 noon. And The Rotary Club of Toronto has been entered as a community entry to march in the parade! Bring out your green and join fellow Rotarians, friends and family in being part of the parade. The parade begins on Bloor near St. George to Yonge, down Yonge to Queen and ends at Nathan Phillips Square. Following the parade arrangements are being made for the group to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at a restaurant nearby. Further details to follow. Please email Kevin Power if you are interested in attending.
Catch The Ace - our Latest Fundraiser!
Our club is participating in a New Rotary Raffle that is being sponsored by a number of Rotary clubs in Ontario. The raffle is called Catch the Ace, similar to our Ace of Clubs draw that we used to hold at our live meetings ….. this one is played online. All you have to do is go to Linktr.ee/RotaryToronto and you will be connected to our club’s landing page. You can buy a ticket in $5, $10 or $20 increments. The winners are posted weekly on the website and depending on your tickets and the card you choose you may win the weekly draw prize or even the jackpot…. Our club receives $0.85 for every $5 purchase, $2.95 for every $10 purchase and $7.15 for every $20 purchase.
Emails - Too many addresses?
Interested in making them more efficient for your needs?
Contact maureen.bird@rotarytoronto.com or 416-804-3726 to help you simplify and make sure you never miss an important message.
