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Reflecting on 2024: Altruvest’s Annual Donor and Community Appreciation Event

This December, Altruvest hosted the Annual Donor and Community Appreciation Events in Toronto and Vancouver, nights filled with gratitude, inspiration, and celebration of the positive impact made throughout the year. The event brought together our Founder & Chairman, Rob Follows, the Altruvest Board of Directors, dedicated staff, volunteers, and our ever-growing community of BoardMatch Leaders (BML). The evening featured key highlights, exciting announcements, and meaningful reflections from a roster of inspiring guest speakers.

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Expanding Our Reach: Welcoming New BoardMatch Leaders

This year marked an incredible milestone for the BoardMatch Leaders (BML) Program, which welcomed 87 new leaders from Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, where the program debuted this year. This growth reflects Altruvest’s mission to connect skilled professionals with charities in need of dynamic and effective board members.

Looking to the future, we’re thrilled to announce plans to expand to Montreal and Chicago in 2024 and launch BoardMatch Fundamentals, a cutting-edge online learning and matching platform, by 2025.

Toronto’s cohort of 45 leaders was especially celebrated during the event. Many raised their hands to share personal experiences, proudly reflecting on how the program empowered them to create real change.

Spotlight on Inspiring Guest Speakers

The evening was enriched by special guest speakers, who each played a part in shaping the evening’s discussions and celebrations in both Toronto and Vancouver.

Vancouver:

Sean VerretPartner at EY, has over 17 years of expertise in business tax incentives. As a board member of the Britannia Mine Museum Society, Sean exemplifies leadership in preserving BC’s mining heritage, aligning closely with BoardMatch’s mission.

Sam Herscovitch – VP of Corporate Strategy & Member Experience at Coast Capital, with 16+ years in strategy, finance, and marketing. A dedicated mentor with Junior Achievement BC, Sam joined the latest BoardMatch Leaders cohort, deepening his commitment to impactful board service.

Aaron Kueng – Regional VP at BMO Bank of Montreal, has extensive expertise in finance, operational compliance, and team engagement. Formerly on the board of the Arts Club Theatre Company, Aaron is a proud member of the current BoardMatch Leaders cohort.

Julie Bogle – Partner at BLG in Vancouver, specializes in corporate governance and compliance. As Chair of the Board for The Forum, Julie is applying her BoardMatch Leaders training to excel in her board leadership role.

Brenna Daloise – Assurance Partner at EY, leads BC’s mining assurance practice and serves on the Junior Achievement BC fundraising committee. Through BoardMatch, Brenna will join the board of Furniture Bank in 2025.

Carol Neuman – Executive Director of ONE to ONE Literacy, is also Board Chair of the Urban Horse Project. She spoke about the critical role of engaged, knowledgeable boards and the challenges charities face in recruiting qualified board volunteers.

Toronto:

Hayley Niven – Senior Manager, Brand Programs at BLG, bridges BLG’s culture with its clients and the community. Hayley highlighted why BLG enthusiastically supports BoardMatch Leaders, focusing on the program’s alignment with BLG’s values of community involvement and ESG.

Danielle Dang – CEO of Creating Alternatives, shared the organization’s mission to empower individuals with developmental disabilities through day programs, life skills training, and wellness initiatives, while supporting their families and caregivers.

Fiona Fisher – Executive Director of Camp Quality, spoke about her dedication to creating camp-based programs for children and families affected by childhood cancer. Fiona emphasized the transformative role BoardMatch Leaders play in strengthening charities like Camp Quality.

Jignesh Patel – Senior Manager, Assurance at EY, shared his journey as a new board member with Burlington Green to help improve the environment for the next generation including his young daughter!

Christi Scarrow – Managing Partner at Lighthouse NINE, spoke about her role as a mentor in the BoardMatch Leaders program. Christi highlighted the importance of mentorship in supporting new board members as they transition into their roles.

Honouring Excellence: The Inaugural BoardMatch Leaders Impact Award

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Inaugural BoardMatch Leaders Impact Award to Jad Shimaly, EY Global Managing Partner – Client Service.  Recognized for his outstanding contributions to board leadership, Jad has served on boards including ABC Life Literacy Foundation, Pathways to Education, United Way Cabinet, and the BlackNorth Initiative, driving impactful change across education, equity, and community development. His success is a testament to his contributions as a BoardMatch leader, displaying the impact the program has in empowering leaders to contribute to the charitable sector.

Gratitude for Our Sponsors and Hosts

The success of the BoardMatch Leaders Program would not have been possible without the generosity and support of our sponsors and hosts:

  • EY Canada: Charles Marful, Massimo Marinelli, Kevin Brennan, Sean Verret, and Alison Jackson, for hosting in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.
  • BMO: Helen Siebel, Allison Brimmer, James Kitamura, Katy Zei, and Christine Wu for hosting in Toronto and Vancouver.
  • PwC: Mike Harris, James Temple, Kate Furber, and Bev Philipp, for hosting in Vancouver.
  • Torys LLP: Emily Atkinson and Matt Cockburn, for hosting in Toronto.
  • UBS: Christoph Arnold, for hosting in Toronto.

Looking Ahead

The evening closed with a shared sense of purpose and anticipation for the year ahead. Altruvest remains committed to empowering leaders and building stronger communities, one board at a time. If you would like to get involved, you can do so in three key ways:

  1. Donate: Help us grow our impact by making a donation through Canada Helps.
  2. Volunteer: We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team. Click here if you would like to submit an application.
  3. Sponsor or become a BoardMatch Leaders: Sponsor or become a BoardMatch Leader yourself. Please reach out to lee.giles@altruvest.org for more details. We are launching cohorts in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Chicago in spring 2025. Make 2025 the year you volunteer and join a board!

Thank you to everyone who made 2024 a success.

Welcome! Let's create impact together.

With your help, We have been strengthening charitable boards For more than 25 years.

Welcome! Let's create impact together.

With your help, We have been strengthening charitable boards

For more than 25 years.

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