2022
Innovation & Creativity Award -
Greater Toronto
COSTI Employment Services
Nominator Comments:
For more than 12 years, Tejal has been a Youth Mentoring Coach for COSTI Vaughan’s Employment Team. During the pandemic, she took on the additional role of Regional Coordinator of the netWORKS program, a program that works with four United Way agencies to provide networking and mentoring services to help young adults facing multiple barriers build connections that help them find meaningful career opportunities.
Over the last two years, she has created a strong team spirit between staff of all four partner agencies and worked tirelessly with them to serve and support youth as the program became fully virtual, pursuing creative solutions to engage youth and re-create in-person networking in a safe and comfortable online space where mentors can share their career journeys and youth can seek guidance. Tejal organized and hosted over 200 online networking events through the program, providing youth access to resources and opportunities so desperately needed. Behind the scenes, she worked tirelessly to ensure that all networking participants were engaged and had the best possible experience.
Tejal’s commitment, creativity, and passion for genuinely making a difference in the lives of young adults by taking them under her wing and guiding them has inspired youth alumni to return as program mentors to empower their peers.
2022 Greater Toronto Bhayana Family Foundation Awards
Recognizing the extraordinary staff of United Way-funded agencies who make a difference every day.
Media Advisory: Bhayana Family Foundation Awards recognizes leaders in social service sector
November 23, 2022 (Toronto, ON) – Media are invited to a celebration of the social services sector’s leadership, partnership, dedication, innovation and creativity as the Bhayana Family Foundation Awards return on November 25 after a three-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Stories of resiliency, fortitude and innovation will be shared at the hybrid event as five team awards and 10 individual awards will be awarded to frontline employees from United Way Greater Toronto’s network of agencies who served over 2 million people last year in Peel, Toronto and York.
Date: Friday, November 25, 2022 Time: 1 to 3 p.m. Format: Virtual via Zoom or in person for photography and videography
The awards ceremony will include:
A keynote address by The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
Emcee Daniele Zanotti, CEO of United Way Greater Toronto
Remarks by Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Raksha M.Bhayana of the Bhayana Family FoundationMedia interested in attending this event, please contact:Lindsay Kwan
Communications Manager, United Way Greater Toronto lkwan@uwgt.org
416-732-9700
Bhayana Awards Run of Show
Times are approximate
12:15–12:30: Guests Arrive
12:30–1:00: Buffet Lunch (in person)
1:00–1:10: Zoom goes live
1:10–1:15: Daniele Zanotti (UWGT President & CEO) welcomes guests (in person and on Zoom) and introduces Hon. Minister Ahmed Hussen
1:15–1:20: Minister Ahmed Hussen speaks (via Zoom)
1:20–1:23: Daniele thanks Minister Hussen and introduces Rocco Rossi
1:23–1:26: Rocco Rossi speaks
1:26–1:28: Daniele thanks Rocco Rossi and introduces Raksha Bhayana
1:28–1:32: Raksha speaks
1:32–2:02 Daniele presents Individual awards
2:02–2:05: Daniele congratulates the individual winners and introduces impact story presenters
2:05–2:08: Impact story #1
2:08–2:11: Impact story #2
2:11–2:30: Daniele thanks speakers and introduces the Team Awards
2:30–2:33: Daniele presents closing remarks and congratulates all
2:33–3:00: Guests mingle and depart
Have you been helped by a human service champion? We would love to hear about it.