Toronto Community Housing, the DeRo Foundation and Soccer World partnered to donate winter coats to Scarborough families

TORONTO, January 6, 2021—Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) tenants and community members who visited the Hope Centre on Empringham Drive in Scarborough during the Holidays to pick up supplies received an unexpected bonus: soccer champion Dwayne De Rosario was on hand to donate new winter coats.  

As families met at the Hope Centre on December 22 to pick up supplies, TCHC staff, volunteers, Soccer World store co-owner Stephen Nesbit and Legacy Dream 2 Reality founder Deshon Downer joined Mr. De Rosario to distribute dozens of new coats. The event took place outdoors and followed all social distancing protocols. 

"All of us at the DeRo Foundation are grateful in this difficult year to align with Soccer World in providing warm winter coats to those in need," said Mr. De Rosario, a former Canadian professional soccer player, four-time MLS Cup champion and founder of his family's DeRo Foundation. "This year has been extremely difficult especially for low-income families and communities. To be able to warm hearts and bodies during this time is a powerful rewarding feeling and we are grateful to be in a position to help." 

Mr. Nesbit's Soccer World store in Oakville has donated 50 winter coats for the DeRo Foundation to distribute to people in Scarborough and the Greater Toronto Area. 

"It has been a difficult year for our store, but we are grateful that we are still here and can serve our community. We are fortunate and we don't take that for granted. We know many other retailers have not been able to survive," said Mr. Nesbit. "It's an honour for us to be able to give back, especially during these difficult times. Everyone deserves to be warm this winter." 

Toronto Community Housing thanks the DeRo Foundation and Soccer World for their generous support to members of our Empringham Drive community this holiday season. 

About the DeRo Foundation 

The DeRo Foundation was established by Dwayne De Rosario to support local community initiatives. 

The Foundation's mission is to support local community initiatives which use soccer as a platform to help youth in high priority neighbourhoods develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Each individual associated with the Foundation is committed to helping youth achieve their maximum potential on and off the pitch—through providing mentorship and developmental tools in the area of education, leadership, self-confidence and health and nutrition. 

As a registered foundation, the DeRo Foundation works with local community organizations to create programs that teach youth the importance of leadership, teamwork, education, and health and nutrition. We offer after school programs and training clinics that helps kids achieve their full potential in a fun, friendly and creative environment. For more information about the DeRo Foundation please visit derofoundation.com 

About Toronto Community Housing 

Toronto Community Housing is Canada's largest social housing provider. We are owned by the City of Toronto and provide homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in more than 100 of the city's neighbourhoods. Our buildings represent a $10-billion public asset. 

Media contact: TCHC Media Line 416-737-1352 or media@torontohousing.ca