Toronto Community Foundation named "Outstanding Foundation" by Association of
Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

Leadership excellence in philanthropy recognized by annual awards for over 10 years

TORONTO, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - The Toronto Community Foundation is the 2010 recipient of the Greater Toronto Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals' "Outstanding Foundation" award. The award is one of seven given out by AFP every year.

The AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Philanthropy Awards are a celebration of the outstanding contribution of time, leadership and financial support made by organizations and individuals, who have set excellence benchmarks in encouraging the spirit of giving. Nominations are submitted by AFP Greater Toronto Chapter members on behalf of the organization where nominees have made a difference through their volunteer or philanthropic efforts. Recipients are chosen by the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Award Selection committee and include individuals, foundations and corporate philanthropists, civic and service philanthropic organizations, professional fundraising executives, and non-profits.

The Toronto Community Foundation was nominated by Pati Greenwood, Vice-President, Resource Development, Pathways to Education Canada. Pathways is a previous recipient of Vital Ideas grants from the Community Foundation in support of education programs targeting youth from the disadvantaged communities of Regent Park, Rexdale, and Lawrence Heights.

"With a unique mandate to provide capacity-building grants to not-for-profits, the Toronto Community Foundation has been instrumental in enabling organizations, such as Pathways, to grow and achieve strategic priorities," said Greenwood.

Mayor David Miller and Chris Spence, Director of Education for the Toronto District School Board, were among the individuals who submitted letters in support of the nomination. In his letter, Mayor Miller called the Toronto Community Foundation an "invaluable resource for the city" and described its leadership as "exemplary".

"It is an honour to be nominated and selected for this award," said Rahul K. Bhardwaj, President & CEO, Toronto Community Foundation. "Our ability to generate meaningful impact in our communities would not be possible without the support and trust of our family of fundholders and donors and our many community partners."

About the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Philanthropy Awards
The AFP Greater Toronto Chapter has been honouring leadership in philanthropy through its annual awards program since 1995. This year the Awards will be presented at the annual AFP Greater Toronto Chapter's Philanthropy Awards Luncheon to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building on Thursday, December 2, 2010. For more information please contact Cynthia Quigley AFP Greater Toronto Chapter at 416-941-9212 or [email protected] or visit www.afptoronto.org.

About the Toronto Community Foundation
Community vitality has been our purpose, promise, and passion since 1981, when we started connecting donors to community needs and opportunities. Home to hundreds of endowment funds, we help people invest in Toronto, making it the best place to live, work, learn and grow. We monitor the quality of life in our city, identifying its strengths and weaknesses through our Toronto's Vital SignsR Report. We provide the leadership and guidance to bring people together from all parts of our community. We exist for Toronto - for now and for always.

About AFP
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter is a recognized leader in promoting philanthropy and providing education, training and best practices for those in the fundraising profession. With more than 1,200 members, the Greater Toronto Chapter is the largest of the 200 AFP chapters throughout the world.

For further information:

Media contacts:

Simone Dalton, Media Relations & Communications Officer, [email protected], 416-921-2035 ext. 218.

Cynthia Quigley at 416-941-9212 or [email protected]