TORONTO, May 22, 2013 /CNW/ - Angela Draskovic will become President & CEO of The Yonge Street Mission (YSM) effective June 1, 2013, Board of Directors Chair Judy Hunter announced today.
Following a thorough search process, the Board chose Angie for her strong fit with YSM and its values. In addition to her management skills and professional qualifications, the Selection Committee was drawn to Angie's passion, common sense and commitment to people living with poverty.
A strategic and purposeful leader, Angie comes to us with 26 years of valuable experience in business and not-for-profit leadership and social entrepreneurship. Most recently, she founded ZOË Alliance Incorporated in July 2007, a for-profit social purpose enterprise that harnesses existing corporate spending on promotional items to help micro-entrepreneurs in developing communities help break the cycle of poverty. Angie served as the first Executive Director of Muskoka Woods Foundation, established to support a 29-year-old youth ministry.
Prior to joining Muskoka Woods, Angie worked for 12 years in telecommunications with Zhone Technologies and with Lucent Technologies. In her executive roles she helped establish footholds for start-up businesses in competitive markets, implemented new business models for established businesses and led teams to achieve record sales results.
Angie has served as a board member for several charities, including the Rose of Durham, Thinking Forward, and The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Angie also served on the Board of Directors for The Yonge Street Mission from April to December 2012, at which time she stepped down in order to be considered for the role of President and CEO.
Effective June 1, 2013 current Interim Executive Director, Bill Ryan, will become Program Officer. Bill is our longest-serving staff member with more than 30 years with YSM. We are grateful to Bill for serving in the role of Interim Executive Director over the past year and a half, and that he will continue serving YSM in his new role.
We also thank Rick Tobias. In his 23 years as CEO of YSM, the Mission grew enormously in size and impact. Now, having already seen the benefits of his work as Community Advocate begun last September, we are very glad he will continue.
Angie joins the Mission as the charitable sector navigates significant changes in donor expectations, while the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow within the community. In this climate, we believe Angie Draskovic is well positioned to provide the leadership we need for YSM to continue to make a substantive difference in the GTA.
Getting kids off the streets and keeping them in school is one of the key areas of focus for The Yonge Street Mission. This involves providing safe spaces for kids as well as offering counselling, literacy training, mentoring, employment skills development and the basics like offering healthcare services and providing nutritious food. Many students drop out because they slip through the cracks.
About The Yonge Street Mission
The Yonge Street Mission has been on the front lines of service since 1896, providing emergency help, and fostering long-term change in the lives of individuals, families and the community itself. We are a Christian faith community working in downtown Toronto and a registered Canadian charity. All assistance is given strictly on the basis of need, regardless of colour, culture, religion, economic status, gender, sexual orientation or social condition. We believe that all individuals are created in the image of God and deserve the opportunity for a full and just participation in society.
For more information please go to: http://www.ysm.ca/learn/
SOURCE: Yonge Street Mission
Media Contact:
Sharon Howell
Senior Manager of Donor Relations
The Yonge Street Mission
Email address: [email protected]
Office: 416-929-9614 x 4257
Mobile: 416-873-4836
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