RioCan: Putting Community on their back

"With great power comes great responsibility" -Batman

RioCan REIT personifies this notion through the corporate social responsibility they have demonstrated since their inception. Founder and CEO, Ed Sonshine, along with his team at RioCan lead by COO, Fred Waks, have continually put Jewish based fundraising efforts and community-building events at the forefront of their CSR strategy.

As we embark on our 4th year of operating Hoops 4 Israel in Toronto, we are proud and grateful for the overwhelming support and encouragement of RioCan and their corporate leadership of Eddy & Freddy. Two avid sports-fans and proven leaders in business and community, RioCan is a perfect fit as a title sponsor to H4I four years running!!

Ed Sonshine, past UJA Chair, has a long-standing and inspiring commitment to the Jewish community in Canada and Israel. His leadership roles span a variety of Jewish-based causes such as: United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, and Yad Vashem. Ed's amazing wife Fran has used her background in teaching to have significant influence and leadership responsibilities amongst these institutions as well. The willingness to publicly position RioCan as a title sponsor for so many Jewish and Israel-based causes, demonstrates a pride that we hope, will influence more Jewish business leaders to follow in regards to corporate social responsibility of the Jewish community.

Fred Waks, a current Chair of Koffler Centre of the Arts, past-Chair of the 2006 Israel-Canada Emergency Campaign and past-UJA Chair, Fred has followed Ed's lead in becoming one of Toronto's elite Jewish leaders. His commitment to the Jewish community has even had a trickle down affect to other Jewish employees of RioCan. A staunch supporter of Israel and a myriad of Jewish causes such as: UJA of Greater Toronto, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Yad Vashem, the Koffler Centre for the Arts; Fred is continually pushed by his dynamic wife Linda to give back to the Jewish community in unique and powerful ways.

Fred has said: "I see the next generation taking responsibility. As a parent and someone in the Jewish community, there's nothing more important than that continuum".

Most recently, RioCan has titled or been a major sponsor the following Toronto Fundraising events:

• UJA's 'Walk with Israel'
• Baycrest's 'Dancing with our Stars'
• Canadian Friends of Yad Vashem's 'Dinner of Miracles'
• BAC & UJA's 'Hoops 4 Israel'

Ed & Fred's values and commitment to the Jewish community have set a standard for Jewish business professionals and young Jewish adults to strive for. It is no surprise their success in business has carried over to the success they have had in Jewish community building both here and Israel. Their lead is inspiring for the next generation to follow and their support for us brings great confidence that we have met their standard of excellence in Jewish philanthropy.