EMPLOYEE GIVING PROGRAM

About the Employee Giving Program MLSE Foundation’s Employee Giving Program gives MLSE employees (both full-time and hourly) the opportunity to give back! The program provides staff an easy way to support MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad through a payroll contribution and engage employees in unique events and volunteer opportunities. 100% of funds donated through the program directly support MLSE LaunchPad.

Benefits of Giving In addition to changing the lives of youth through the spirit and power of sport, those enrolled in the Employee Giving Program receive a suite of benefits. • Charitable tax receipt for full donation amount. • Your name to be recognized on MLSE LaunchPad’s Employee Giving wall within the MLSE LaunchPad facility in perpetuity. • Exclusive opportunities and access throughout the year to unique MLSE Foundation and MLSE events. • Priority access to one-of-a-kind volunteer opportunities at MLSE Foundation; including Sport For Development programs at MLSE LaunchPad, signature fundraising events and more.

About MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad Using the power of sport as a unifying force, we're committed to helping youth reach their potential and creating more equal playing fields for all. Since launching in December 2009, MLSE Foundation has invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities. For more information visit mlsefoundation.org and follow @MLSEFoundation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

MLSE LaunchPad – MLSE Foundation’s largest project to date - is a 42,000 sq ft Sport For Development facility where youth facing barriers use sport to recognize and reach their potential. Supported by MLSE’s professional sports teams - the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, and Toronto Argos - MLSE LaunchPad provides free sport, life skills and employment training programs for youth age 6-29. We partner with expert organizations to deliver programming that support our four pillars: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Ready For School and Ready For Work. Visit our website at mlselaunchpad.org.

EMPLOYEE GIVING PROGRAM

What are your dollars supporting? Thanks to generous donors, MLSE LaunchPad provides life skills programming to youth at no cost. A $100 donation allows 1 youth to participate in 1 MLSE LaunchPad program. That works out to roughly $4 from each pay cheque for the year. Here are some amazing early results from MLSE LaunchPad’s first year:

EMPLOYEE GIVING PROGRAM

Here’s an example of how MLSE LaunchPad has changed the life of a youth: A youth member was first introduced to MLSE LaunchPad through a youth restorative justice program. Youth participating in the program must attend six 2-hour sessions to have their charges dropped. Each program session consists of 1 hour of physical activity followed by 1 hour of group dialogue.

MLSE LaunchPad staff and coaches noticed that in 6 weeks of working with her, she never really smiled and rarely ever spoke. On the last day of the program, an MLSE LaunchPad staff member approached her and asked her what she planned to do next. “I need a job,” she said.

She was encouraged to apply to the MLSE LaunchPad Leaders in Training program. It was here that she thrived. Through interacting with our youth members and leading our summer programs, she gained valuable life skills such as communication, leadership, critical thinking and self-confidence.

She is now a part-time basketball coach at MLSE LaunchPad and was recently hired at a local restaurant. She is also the leading scorer on her high school’s Senior Girls basketball team as a Junior! She is continuing to develop her skills by participating in speaking engagements such as the MLSE Employee Expo where she spoke on stage in front of over 1,000 people.

Did you know MLSE supports MLSE LaunchPad? MLSE Foundation is lucky to have the incredible support of MLSE. With annual funding to support MLSE LaunchPad in addition to staff and brand resources, MLSE is helping to ensure youth facing barriers have sustained access to quality sport and life skills programming.

How do I sign up to participate? It’s easy! Simply fill out the Employee Giving enrollment form and click submit! Your completed form will be sent straight to payroll!

Questions? Contact Cynthia Tommasi (Development Coordinator, MLSE Foundation) at [email protected].