GOULD STREET

GIVING

Lottery winner gives sporting youth a chance

In Canada, one in three families cannot afford to enroll their children in organized sports. Jason Rinaldi, who won $35 million playing Lotto 6/49 in 2008, is helping Toronto kids beat those odds.

Rinaldi’s $500,000 gift to Rams Care at Ryerson University will enable more kids from priority neighborhoods to participate in organized sports, and be inspired by mentors to pursue post-secondary education.

“I’ve been involved in philanthropic initiatives since winning the lottery. It was coming up on the 10-year anniversary and I wanted to do something that was directed specifically at making an immediate change in the community and in young people’s lives,” says Rinaldi.

Ryerson student athlete talks with children at Rams Care Summer Camp.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY (LOTTERY) CHRISTIAN BENDER/RYERSON RAMS ATHLETICS; (EXHIBITION) SOUTHWORTH & HAWES STUDIO, [PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN], CA. 1850, DAGUERREOTYPE IN LEATHER CASE WITH APPLIED COLOUR (HALF). THE HOWARD AND CAROLE TANENBAUM PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION

Through Rams Care, Ryerson Athletics’ community outreach program, Ryerson athletes host a summer camp and provide after-school mentorship. Children from underserved communities get a chance to learn and play in an environment they may otherwise not be exposed to, while Ryerson athletes develop leadership skills, social responsibility and community spirit.

The camp reached 100 youth last year, leading Ryerson Athletics to set an ambitious goal to reach 500 kids this year. Rinaldi’s gift puts them on target.

“When you can see kids that don’t have much, smiling, laughing, seeing future possibilities, that’s what it is all about,” says Rinaldi.

To learn more about Rams Care, visit ryersonrams.ca.

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