December 1st, 2015.Do Good. Feel Good.

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Table of Contents

What is GivingTuesday?...................................................3

Our Mission.......................................................................6

Our Inspiration..................................................................8

Our Plan..........................................................................10

Funding Methods............................................................18

Our Team.........................................................................19

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Every year in November, thousands of Canadians hit their local shopping centres to hunt down the best bargains and kick off their holiday shopping. On Black Friday, the malls are busy with the buzz of eager shoppers, and on Cyber Monday, the net is surfed for the sweetest online deals of the year. These annual retail phenomena are all about buying in bulk at the best prices.

The average Canadian knows all about Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But what about the philanthropic new phenomenon, GivingTuesday?

It’s beneficial, it’s exciting, it’s selfless and it’s coming to the City of Mississauga!

GivingTuesday is the new global movement taking place each year after Black Friday. It is all about giving, volunteering and thinking differently about how Canadians can involve themselves in the true meaning of the holidays. GivingTuesday is a day to kick-off the giving season and celebrate all forms of giving as we work together to build a better community. It is the perfect day for a not-for-profit to launch a holiday campaign, for a foundation to announce grants, for a business to raise funds or awareness for a charity, for a team of people to get together to volunteer their time and for individuals to engage with the local causes that are impacting this community and the world.

What is GivingTuesday?

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GivingTuesday was originally started in the United States of America in 2012 by the combined efforts of the UN Foundation, the NYC 92Y and several other community organizations. Since its initial launch, the movement has gone global, with activities in over 40 countries and endorsements from The White House, Bill Gates and the Clinton Foundation.

GivingTuesday has been active within Canada for the past three years. The movement has provided a date when a unique blend of partners – Canadian charities, companies and individuals – join together to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season.

GivingTuesday Canada was founded by GIV3 and CanadaHelps.org in 2013 and now includes over 3,300 charitable partners across Canada!

The Origins of GivingTuesday

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MississaugaGives is an initiative which seeks to promote local charitable giving in Mississauga on GivingTuesday – December 1st, 2015.

The MississaugaGives campaign and its related initiatives will encourage residents to support charitable and not-for-profit organizations of their choice through means of giving; including monetary donations, volunteering, donating blood, signing up for organ donation and donating food.

MississaugaGives is excited to join the global movement by promoting giving in our community as a campaign and local adaptation of GivingTuesday.

The following report will outline our goals, strategic plans and MississaugaGives team. For further information or to become a charity, business, school, media, or community partner, please email mississaugagives@gmail.com, or visit www.mississaugagives.ca when the site launches in June 2015.

Our Mission

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Our Goals

For our first ever city-wide GivingTuesday celebration, we have the following goals for the launch of MississaugaGives:

· Involve 200 local businesses

· Involve 80 local charities

· Involve 100 local schools

· Collect 2,000 clothing items on GivingTuesday

· Collect 1,000 pounds worth of food items on GivingTuesday

· Collect 50 hair donations on GivingTuesday

· Collect 1000 toy donations on GivingTuesday

· Log 5,000 volunteer hours on GivingTuesday from volunteers across the City of Mississauga

· Inspire 100 citizens to sign up to become regular charity volunteers

And finally, with your help, the MississaugaGives campaign will raise a cool $713,443 for local causes – that’s $1 for every Mississauga resident. We also hope to have $286,557 in planned corporate sponsorship funding announced from various businesses on GivingTuesday. Together, that is a grand goal of $1,000,000 for local charitable organizations across the City of Mississauga.

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Our Plan

Our Mission

The MississaugaGives initiative places Mississauga alongside the many cities who have already brought the GivingTuesday movement to their community.

Following the incredible success of GuelphGives, a citywide give-back campaign promoting charitable giving in the City of Guelph, MississaugaGives will bring a similar energy and purpose to the City of Mississauga on GivingTuesday.

Last year, GuelphGives used the power of social media and community bonds to work towards their goal of raising one million dollars on GivingTuesday 2014 in support of charitable organizations in the City of Guelph. GuelphGives’ extraordinary efforts raised over 1.2 million dollars for various charitable and not-for-profit organizations. As part of their campaign and city wide giveback initiative, GuelphGives organized a free skate, Charity Plinko and a ‘Giving Fair’ at one of their local malls.

For more information about GuelphGives, visit: www.guelphgives.com.

Our Inspiration

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“What a fantastic response from the people of Guelph. With an incredible total of 49 people consenting to donate their organs and tissue during the GuelphGives Fair, the impact down the road this will have is great. 49 registrations means there is the potential for 392 lives to be saved from organ donation and 3675 people whose lives will be enhanced through tissue donation. Please consider registering if you didn’t get a chance to at the Giving Fair - you will be a lifesaver.” -- Trillium Gift of Life

“Thanks GuelphGives, for organizing such a strong call to action, and for recognizing all forms of giving.” -- Guelph Arts Council

“It was great to experience the amazing community spirit of giving during GivingTuesday. Hats off to the GuelphGives organizing committee for a terrific job.” -- Anonymous

“GuelphGives gave us an exciting opportunity to share our organization’s cause with a broader audience, one that we wouldn’t have reached on our own.” -- Pollination Guelph

“Habitat for Humanity raised $16,055 in donations and secured applications for 7 volunteers as well as had 16 volunteer hours supporting us at our display.” -- Guelph Habitat for Humanity

“Excellent day to spread the word about the work we do in the community and engage potential

volunteers and donors! Great Job.” -- The Elliot Community

GuelphGives Testimonials

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The MississaugaGives initiative will employ a wide range of methods to promote and support charitable giving in the City of Mississauga. Although our plans may expand and evolve throughout the process, the following features and tasks of our campaign will help bring our vision to fruition.

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MississaugaGives will partner with a variety of local media outlets as campaign media partners. Such a partnership will require media partners to advertise, cover and promote the campaign leading up to and on GivingTuesday. MississaugaGives will also seek out interviews on local print, online, television and radio media outlets to promote the initiative prior to and on GivingTuesday.

Additionally, the MississaugaGives team will provide printed brochures and small posters to charities, schools, businesses, or other community organizations wanting to display or distribute materials within their establishment or to their members. Approximately 50,000 to 100,000 brochures are expected to be distributed to various residents across the City of Mississauga. This figure is subject to appropriate funding.

Promotional and Traditional Marketing

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To promote MississaugaGives and GivingTuesday, our campaign will utilize the power of social media.

Using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube we will reach out to Mississaugians and engage social media followers in conversation regarding the importance of charitable giving and the sector using the hashtag, #SaugaGives. We will also schedule one or more Twitter chats this fall to provide our charity partners with the opportunity to discuss their ideas and plans for GivingTuesday, and to place the spotlight on the great work they are doing in the city. Social media platforms will also be used to thank corporate sponsors.

An additional online strategy we will employ is the use of an #unselfie – a selfless ‘selfie’. We will encourage our online followers and supporters to upload a photograph of them holding up a piece of paper with a short sentence on how they are giving this year or the charitable act of kindness they performed on GivingTuesday. Once the photo is taken using a template which we provide, we will encourage supporters to post their images to social media using the hashtag #SaugaGives.

Our MississaugaGives website (www.mississaugagives.ca) will also be a hub where donors, charities, businesses, community leaders, not-for-profit organizations, community groups, media outlets and those who would like to get involved and know more about the MississaugaGives movement can visit to do so. Our website will feature a myriad of blog posts and ways to get involved in MississaugaGives and the GivingTuesday movement.

Moreover, the online hub will be the place where participants are able to report and declare how many volunteer hours, donations, or other measurements of giving were provided/received on GivingTuesday in Mississauga. This will ensure we have the means to measure the campaign’s impact in our city. By encouraging residents to submit their volunteer hours and donations under the banner of MississaugaGives, we will set a region-wide precedent of giving back to the community.

The MississaugaGives website is expected to launch in June 2015.

Online Engagement

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The campaign’s Director of Political Engagement is responsible for the engagement and promotion of the MississaugaGives movement to political leaders on all levels of government. Our correspondence with political leaders will include a request for their involvement in promoting the initiative to their constituents both prior and on GivingTuesday.

Additionally, MississaugaGives will present a deputation to the City Council of Mississauga in June 2015 to request the approval of the following:

• To declare GivingTuesday as a day for charitable giving throughout the City of Mississauga on Tuesday, December 1st, 2015;

• To acquire the support and endorsement of City Council and develop an official partnership with the City of Mississauga;

• To authorize and endorse the lighting of Mississauga’s Celebration Square and City Hall in the official MississaugaGives campaign colours on December 1st, 2015; and

• To encourage the promotion of MississaugaGives by Councillors and the Mayor’s Office to their constituents through their regular channels of communication

Political Engagement

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The campaign’s Directors of Student Engagement are responsible for engagement with and the promotion of the MississaugaGives campaign to students of all ages in Mississauga.

The Directors will be responsible for promoting the initiative in elementary, secondary, private, Montessori and post-secondary schools across the city. They will encourage schools to use GivingTuesday and the MississaugaGives campaigns as an opportunity to launch holiday charity drives or collect funds, toys, food, etc. on GivingTuesday in support of the city-wide giving-back campaign. Schools can also choose to support a cause of their choice and use such an opportunity to teach the importance of giving to their students.

The campaign’s Directors of Student Engagement will develop various activities for schools and students to spark an interest and eventual involvement in the movement. For example, secondary schools might charge students a toonie to dress down/out of uniform. Schools might also host an inspirational speaker. A member of the MississaugaGives team is available to speak with students at a school event to share more information on the campaign prior to or on GivingTuesday.

Student Engagement

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The Directors of Charity Engagement will ensure the campaign’s positive uptake by registered charitable organizations across Mississauga. The directors will reach out to registered charities within the city and get their organizations on board and involved as an official charity partner within the campaign.

Once a charity chooses to partner with MississaugaGives, it is the organization’s responsibility to use the movement and campaign to leverage donor dollars and support. That said, we will work with our charity partners to support and foster creativity and ideas to allow each organization to make the most out of their participation. Our campaign will host webinars/seminars and provide necessary materials and resources to charity partners to allow each organization to learn and make the most out of their participation. In addition, using the online coverage we receive, the MississaugaGives team will work to promote each charity partner through social media posts, blogs and other means of communication and marketing.

Finally, if the campaign team chooses to and is able to host a MississaugaGives event(s), such as a charitable fair, each partner charity will receive an exclusive invitation to participate and promote their charitable organization. This is subject to funding received.

Charity Engagement

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Our Directors of Corporate Partnership will contact local businesses to form a partnership between the campaign and their establishment.

The team will encourage businesses to host their own MississaugaGives event or in-store initiative using a variety of fundraising methods. For example, businesses could donate a percentage of their sales on GivingTuesday; companies could farm out employees to not-for-profit and charitable organizations to volunteer for the day; or companies could encourage other methods of giving within their establishment. MississaugaGives will promote creativity and assist businesses in generating ideas to get involved.

All business partners will be featured on the MississaugaGives website and will be promoted accordingly via social media.

Business Engagement

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Through countless partnerships with various community organizations, the MississaugaGives team hopes to inspire community groups, associations and organizations to support the GivingTuesday and MississaugaGives campaign. Support can be facilitated to a charitable cause for the day to raise funds, provide promotion, or any other methods in which the group chooses to facilitate.

GivingTuesday is a community driven movement needing community institutions and organizations championing the cause.

Community Engagement

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After consultation with the GuelphGives team, our intended fundraising target to launch the MississaugaGives campaign ranges between $2,000.00 CAD and $10,000.00 CAD. The more funding we receive, the more promotion and events we will ultimately be able to host in support of the initiative.

The MississaugaGives campaign will seek funding from various businesses interested in becoming official corporate partners, all of whom will benefit from their participation. To achieve bronze corporate sponsorship, businesses must donate between $500.00 and $999.00; silver sponsors must donate between $1000.00 and $1499.00; and gold sponsors must donate $1500.00 and up. All corporate partners will be featured on the MississaugaGives website and promoted via social media. Only gold corporate sponsors will have their logo featured on MississaugaGives print marketing materials to be distributed to approximately twenty to forty thousand Mississauga residents across the city. Businesses will not receive a charitable tax receipt as MississaugaGives does not have charitable status.

Additionally, charities are able to become founding charity partners by making a $250.00 financial contribution to MississaugaGives expenses. All other charities interested in joining the movement will be designated ‘Charity Partner’ status free of charge.

Please note, each individual on the MississaugaGives Steering Committee receives no financial compensation.

Funding Methods

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The MississaugaGives Steering Committee and team of volunteers is comprised of a dynamic mix of talented community leaders from across Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. We are passionate about giving back to our community and together, we are determined to make a difference.

Our Team

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Nicole Danesi is a communications specialist, charitable advocate and political enthusiast.

Nearing the end of her undergraduate degree double majoring in Communication, Culture, and Information Technology (CCIT) and Environmental Management at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), Nicole is concurrently pursing a Certificate in Digital Communications from Sheridan College. She was recently recognized by the Institute of Communication, Culture and Information Technology as one of six recipients awarded the 2015 ICCIT Director’s Leadership Awards. On campus, Nicole has worked for the past year and a half as Associate News Editor for UTM’s campus newspaper, The Medium, and recently interviewed Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne during her two week tour of post-secondary institutions across the province. This September, Nicole will return to the publication as News Editor for the 2015-2016 academic year. Off campus, Nicole works as the Communications Coordinator at A Child’s Voice Foundation, a national non-profit charity located in Mississauga, Ontario and has previously interned at CanadaHelps and MississaugaLife magazine. This summer, Nicole is delighted to return to CanadaHelps as the organization’s Marketing Coordinator. In the political realm, Nicole has previously served as Ward 3 Youth Councillor on the Mississauga City Youth Council and currently sits on the Rockwood Homeowners’ Association board of directors as both Director and Digital Coordinator. A volunteer within her community, Nicole has also actively volunteered at the Art Gallery of Mississauga for nearly three years and now sits on the gallery’s marketing committee. Born and raised in the City of Mississauga, Nicole is passionate about helping others and intends to remain active within the charitable and not-for-profit sector while pursuing a professional career in communications or journalism. Nicole’s downtime often involves watching her favourite Gilmore Girls episodes, attending concerts, or listening to her alltime favourite artist, Taylor Swift.

Nicole DanesiCo-Chair

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Lauren Walsh is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College, where she majored in Communication, Culture, and Information Technology (CCIT) and Professional Writing (PWC). Throughout her four years of study, Lauren participated in activities to develop her critical thinking and build upon her abilities.

In 2012, Lauren established her writing skills while writing blog posts for The Student’s Life, an online, student-run magazine featuring articles on various topics including entertainment, food, design and fashion. She received a Certificate of Appreciate for her contribution to the ICCIT Gala 2013. In 2014, she was the first student to receive a Letter of Recognition from the ICCIT Director for her completion of the Professional Skills Series, a program involving workshops and resume clinics to help students develop professional acumen in preparation for their graduation and transition to the work world.

As an intern of Canadian House & Home (H&H) magazine and Lynda Reeves Design Studio, Lauren developed editing and publishable writing skills while establishing an eye for design. Finally, in 2015, Lauren received the Creative Excellence Award for her work in 2014 as an Editor for UTM Compass, a student-run, research-based journal featuring articles on topics including science, history and culture.

Since volunteering with The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund for her high school community hours, Lauren has acquired a passion for charitable giving. She first recognized her leadership skills when she was presented with a grade twelve Co-operative Education award in grade eleven as a JK/SK teaching assistant. She is confident and comfortable with all levels of communication, and hopes to further develop these abilities as the Co-Chair for MississaugaGives.

In the past, Lauren has proven to be successful at marketing messages she believes in: From dressing up as a Bunny to host an Easter event as an employee of Sheridan Nurseries, to receiving a Sheridan Nurseries Brand Ambassador Award, to promoting and selling magazines for H&H at the One of a Kind Show, to acting as the primary brand ambassador of Sweet Woodruff Floral Design Studio’s storefront. Lauren has acquired a stylistic perspective in planning or arranging materials, events and displays.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys playing with her dog, smelling flowers, travelling and talking for hours over a chai latte at Starbucks.

Lauren WalshCo-Chair

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Emily Kovacs is a graduate of the University of Toronto where she studied Socio-Cultural Anthropology, Art History and Linguistics. She is a supporter of institutions that make art accessible to the public and provide instigation for diverse thought on cultural exploration, expression and identity. She feels most satisfied when spending time in Canadian nature. Emily loves fashion and reconciles this love with her love for sustainability by spending inordinate amounts of time sifting through vintage and thrift store wares for unique pieces to up-cycle or tailor with the help of her grandmother’s sewing machine. Her volunteer and professional experiences reflect these passions.

Emily spent her summer breaks from university working in parks within the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. She has since worked in the field with the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to complete reforestation projects in the Credit River Watershed. Her muddy work boots are painted neon pink.

Emily is a Docent at The Bata Shoe Museum where she supports the museum’s efforts to maintain a space for cultural and historical education, preservation and display. She has increased visitor enjoyment and understanding by providing specially tailored interpretations of the museum’s artefacts and materials.

As an avid supporter of accessible art and art education, Emily has been an Animateur at the Art Gallery of Mississauga for the past two years and, more recently, the Marketing and Communications Assistant. The Art Gallery of Mississauga has expressed their support and appreciation for Emily’s voluntary endeavours by awarding her Champion Volunteer 2013, Spotlight Volunteer 2014 and Volunteer of the Year 2014.

Emily has contributed to the University of Toronto Mississauga’s student newspaper, TheMedium, as well as the Toronto contemporary art blog, artoronto.ca. She is the newslettereditor for the non-profit organization, Hike Ontario.

Emily KovacsDirector of Marketing and Communication

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Tihmily Li is a recent graduate from the University of Toronto Mississauga campus’ Communication, Culture, and Information Technology (CCIT) program. The CCIT program has given her skills in media analysis, graphic design, video production and audio production that she hopes to incorporate into her role as Marketing and Communication Director.

Tihmily has previously interned as a graphic designer for the Ontario Science Centre, the Origami Magazine and the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. She was the co-executive of UTM/TV, a student run organization that produces online video content, which has aired her work on OmniTV. She was also a member of a tri-campus initiative called The Wug Life, aimed at introducing high school students to linguistics studies at U of T.

Tihmily’s passions lie in storytelling and connecting people through media. She is always looking for opportunities to grow and learn from her peers and mentors. Originally from Scarborough, she has now come to call Mississauga her home away from home. As a result, she is very excited to join the MississaugaGives team to connect companies and organizations with causes they would like to support.

Tihmily LiDirector of Marketing and Communication

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Agnieszka Kawalec is a challenge-seeking student at the University of Guelph-Humber studying Business Administration with a specialization in Finance. In the future, she hopes to pass the Canadian Securities Course and receive a Chartered Financial Analyst professional credential.

She interned as a technical analyst of the Foreign Exchange Market at Universe Business and Tax Consultants Inc., a challenging opportunity which allowed her an incredible amount of new insight into the world of global Finance.

Agnes discovered a passion for helping those in need while volunteering at Canadian Food for Children, an organization run by Joan and Andrew Simone. She has also donated time to Benares Historic Museum.

Agnieszka KawalecDirector of Finance

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Zunaira Asif is a recent graduate of the International Relations program at Western University. During her years at university, Zunaira held various executive and director positions in multiple clubs including AIESEC, Global China Connection, Pakistan Student Association, Peer Support Centre under the University Student Council. She also had the opportunity to attend Harvard Model United Nations.

As part of the International Relations capstone course, she and the graduating class devised a campaign to get Canada elected to the Security Council of the United Nations. She and the graduating class had the honour of presenting this report to two academic experts – Kim Nossal (Queen’s University) and Roland Paris (University of Ottawa) – and Paul Heinbecker, a career diplomat, former ambassador to Germany, and permanent representative to the UN.

After graduation, Zunaira was appointed Youth Councillor on Mississauga City Youth Council (MiCYC) where she hosted the launch of the Council itself attended by various City Councillors and Member of Parliament and organized a successful debate for Mayoral Candidate. Since then, she was involved in the internal campaign for the current Liberal Candidate, Iqra Khalid of Mississauga-Erinmills riding. Zunaira currently gives her time to the Liberal Candidate, Gagan Sikand of the Mississauga-Streetsville riding where she is in the process of starting Ontario Young Liberal Club. Zunaira further holds a fellowship position for the Liberal Party.

Moreover, Zunaira is involved with the non-profit organization Brave Beginnings led by local leader, Samra Zafar, whose goal is to help find voices for victims of abusive relationships and marriages. Zunaira continues to give her time to United Canadian-Pakistan Volunteers, where she has participated in various candlelight vigils, protests and organized various social events and political debates.

Zunaira is currently using the rest of her time to prepare for law school and study for

LSATS. Zunaira likes to go for runs, plays basketball and is training for Mississauga’s

Half Marathon.

Zunaira AsifDirector of Community Engagement

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Aaron Joshua Pinto recently completed his HBA at Western University majoring in international relations and French, with a particular interest in globalization and post-colonial politics.

Years of passionate engagement in social issues have taken Aaron from the crèches of post-Apartheid townships in Cape Town to the bustling streets of Mumbai and all the way up to the hilltop villages of Indígena in Puerto Carreño. Aaron’s avid interest in global affairs led to his selection as a Junior Team Canada ambassador on a trade and development mission to Central and South America, as well as a domestic mission to the Canadian Arctic.

Upon returning from a year’s exchange in Europe and a development internship in Central Russia, Aaron co-founded Canada’s International Youth Council, an organization which offers opportunities for global-minded young leaders in Canada to join in the global conversation. Aaron is also the Deputy Director of the Canadian Youth Think Tank, a World Vision Canada Youth Ambassador, a member of the Globe and Mail Student Advisory Board and a Junior Research Fellow at the Atlantic Council of Canada.

Most recently, Aaron was elected as a City Youth Councillor in his hometown of Mississauga and he was also selected to be Canada’s Youth Ambassador to the Swiss Chairmanship’s 2014 Model of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe, engaging in three negotiations for a Youth and Security Action Plan.

In October 2014, Aaron travelled to Ukraine as one of 90 Canadians to be an International Election Observer monitoring the Verkhovna Rada parliamentary elections. In the past, he has also met with Prince Charles and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; climbed and scaled down South Africa’s iconic Lion’s Head (during the night); and celebrated Christmas mass at the Vatican with the former Pope.

For his service, Aaron has most recently been recognized with the Scotiabank Bright Future Award and the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award. For relaxation, Aaron enjoys smooth jazz and reading a good historical non-fiction by the local harbour. In the long term, Aaron intends to pursue a career in international law and justice, and eventually in the Foreign Service.

Aaron PintoDirector of Political Engagement

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Andrew Perucho is a recent graduate of the Communication, Culture and Information Technology program at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. He finished with a double major in Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT) and Art History with a minor in Professional Writing.

His interest in graphic design has opened numerous avenues for him from working with the Toronto Raptors, Pepsi, American Airlines, GANZ, and FreshfromtheTheatre to name a few.

In his spare time, Andrew likes to read up on the latest digital trends on Gizmodo (a techie blog), play board games, and collect vinyl records.

Andrew PeruchoDirector of Graphic Design and Branding

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Courtney Strom is a student at University of Toronto at Mississauga majoring in Environmental Management and minoring in English Language Linguistics. She serves as president on the UTM Catholic Students Club.

Courtney is an aspiring teacher and enjoys working with youth of all ages. Off campus, she is an active volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada, leading a Brownie Unit weekly for 5 years. She is also heavily involved at her church, being a part of the Core leadership team for the youth ministry for over 6 years. In the summer of 2012, she was a Totus Tuus Missionary and travelled to different churches to spend a week running summer programs for children grades 1-12. Courtney was a counsellor at an over-night camp in Gravenhurst called Teopoli where she taught music to children, supervised dorms, and lead outdoor activities.

She finds great joy in working with children within the school environment as well, leading class performances for a “Family Mass” and “Music Monday” while volunteering for fun-fairs and assisting in school libraries.

Courtney StromDirector of Student Engagement

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Upeksha Amarasinghe is a student at the University of Toronto, where she is completing a double majoring in Math and Economics.

Presently, Upeksha is working as the Data Analytics Intern with a small engineering firm as part of her Professional Experience Year. She has also worked as a Co-op Student with the Ministry of Transportation and as a Financial Assistant at UofT.

Upeksha worked closely with the Events Committee and Executive Team of the Hart House Investment Club, a student run organization on the UofT campus, which promotes finance and investing. Upeksha works with the organization to organize and implement events such as Speaker Series, technical workshops, case competitions and socials.

She has volunteered with UofT UNICEF’s Youth Engagement Initiative to implement workshops to engage elementary school students in order to aid their development as young leaders with awareness and compassion. Upeksha was a Peer Mentor with UofT’s First Year Learning Communities where she organized and executed academic, social and developmental programs to help enhance the transitional experience of first year students.

Upeksha AmarasingheDirector of Charity Partnerships

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Daniel Berdusco is a third year Digital Enterprise Management specialist at the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College, where he will continue to develop his skills in the web development field.

Daniel started his work in web development in June 2014. He is currently the Director of Web Development at a small design and promotions company called Vita Graphica. In his time at Vita Graphica, Daniel has worked for several companies on various projects, including the websites of a jewellery appraiser, Burlington gym, and online gym equipment retailer. Each project brought its own challenge, but with every challenge, Daniel was given an opportunity to learn and improve. He hopes to improve his skills in web development through work, education and practice in his personal time.

Daniel BerduscoDirector of Web Development