Social Venture Partners selects Skills for Change as third investee

TORONTO, November 24, 2009 – Social Venture Partners Toronto, a fast-growing network of venture philanthropists, announced today that it will grant $75,000 over three years to Skills for Change, a non-profit organization providing learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees. In addition to its grant, SVP Toronto will donate the time and talent of its partners to support the work of Skills for Change.

Founded in 1982, SfC provides language training, skills upgrading, employment preparation programs and settlement support. The agency has served over 110,000 newcomers in the past 27 years, and, on average, 70% of clients find work in their chosen fields. SfC also supports employers to hire immigrants and refugees through “diversity at work” services, including recruitment and training in cross-cultural diversity and workplace-based language programs.

“With our tailored consulting and cash grant, SVP Toronto wants to help Skills for Change strengthen its practices, increase its resources and make an even greater positive impact on Toronto,” explains Kathryn Wortsman, chair of SVP Toronto. “This year we targeted our giving toward helping new immigrants achieve their economic and social potential. Skills for Change fits the bill superbly — and our partners are excited about learning from and contributing to their work.”

Social Venture Partners Toronto is a growing network of Torontonians who pool and invest their money, time and talent in charitable organizations that reduce poverty in Canada’s largest city. In the two years since its founding, SVP Toronto has attracted investment from more than 50 partners and is building a growing community of engaged philanthropists. To date, the organization has invested $225,000 in Toronto-based not-for-profits, and contributed a far greater amount through the pro bono professional expertise of its partners.

"Skills for Change is thrilled to be an investee of Social Venture Partners Toronto,” says Jane Cullingworth, Executive Director of Skills for Change. “We look forward to the opportunity to work with the partners to enhance and innovate our services to the community,"

About Social Venture Partners Toronto (www.svptoronto.org)
Social Venture Partners Toronto is a diverse network of professionals pioneering a new “venture philanthropy” model to fight poverty in Toronto. SVP Toronto pools and invests its partners’ money, time and talent to benefit innovative non-profits and the communities they serve. SVP Toronto is a chapter of Social Venture Partners International (www.svpi.org).

For more information:

Connie Clement, Executive Director, Social Venture Partners Toronto
416-642-5468 or cclement@svptoronto.org

Jane Cullingworth, Executive Director, Skills for Change
(416) 658-3101 x 202 or cullingworth@skillsforchange.org