Toronto Emerging Athletes Mentorship (TEAM) Fund

WHO WE ARE The TEAM Fund is a legacy of the 2012 Ontario Summer Games, created to build the base of Toronto athletes for the future. The Fund is administered through the Toronto Sports Council. Applications are assessed on financial need. The athletes selected for funding (aged years) demonstrate the ability to excel in sport The TEAM Fund has helped 28 athletes in its 3 years of existence.

WHO WE ARE The athletes are residents of the city of Toronto and compete in basketball, track and field, figure skating, squash, rowing, volleyball, swimming, wrestling and gymnastics. The TEAM Fund dispenses up to $10,000 each year. Individual grants range from $250 to $2,000, and recipients are eligible to re-apply each year. The money is significant, and athletes can to re-apply, this is meaningful because the TEAM Fund Committee recognizes that it takes time and money to make a champion.

RAMZI ABDULLAHI Age: 18 School: Western University Sport: Track & Field “The key to any success at life is hard work and dedication.”  Silver medallist in the 400m at the Canadian Junior National Championships.  Represented Canada at the2015 Junior Pan Am Championships and won a bronze in the 4x400m relay.  What’s next?: Ramzi is striving to qualify for the 2016 World Junior Championships.  Ramzi continues to strive towards representing Canada, aspiring to succeed in the Olympics in the near future. “None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the opportunity that the TEAM Fund has granted me.”

KHA VI AN TRAN Age: 15 School: R.H. King Academy Sport: Beach/Indoor Volleyball “I feel that sports help me grow into a well rounded person. I am better because of the wonderful coaches, teammates and their parents.”  Committed to working hard for her goal of being selected to U16/U17 Team Ontario, and possibly Team Canada.  Training for the U beach volleyball FIVB World Championships. “Thank you TSC for the support. You have been helping me reach (actually jump towards) my dream!”

TOMMY TANG Age: 16 School: Bloor Collegiate Institute Sport: Ice Dance (Figure Skating) “I applied for the TEAM Fund to support my son’s figure skating dream.”  Earned a 2 nd place finish at COS Sectionals.  Placed 4 th in National competitions through “He will learn to appreciate the rewarding support that society has given him, and return the favour to society in the future.”

KIARA LEVERIDGE Age: 14 School: Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute Sport: Basketball “This grant will help my family, especially because the price of Rep Basketball is increasing, making things even harder...”  Currently competes against the top 20 elite girls basketball programs in Ontario.  Selected to participate in an elite training program for the top players in the National curriculum. “This grant will give me the funding needed to train and get better, playing and learning the sport I love, Basketball.”

2014 Recipients Linara Kulishova, (14) Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Cierrra Cassell (16), Track & Field Xavier Jehovah, (17), Track & Field George Quarcoo, (18), Track & Field (Para) Tolulope Taiwo, (14), Track & Field Kha Vi An Tran, (13), Volleyball (Age 01/01/2014) (Year applications/6 recipients)

2015 Recipients Leah Hoffmeister, (16), Swimming Ramzi Abdullahi, (17), Track & Field Shemar Allen-Barnum, (16), Track & Field Cyerra Cassell, (17), Track & Field Jamilah James, (17), Track & Field Xavier Jehovah, (18), Track & Field Tolulope Taiwo, (15), Track & Field Tiffany E. Sabado-Worrell, (17), Track & Field Julia Nitz (17), Volleyball Kha Vi An Tran, (14), Volleyball Michiela McNeil, (16), Wrestling (Free-style) Age 01/01/2015 (Year applications/11 recipients)

2016 Recipients Tommy Tang, (16) Figure Skating (Ice Dance) Shaelene Katrayan, (14), Figure Skating (Ice Dance) Lashae Dwyer, (13), Basketball Kiara Leveridge,(14), Basketball Leah Hoffmeister, (17), Rowing Emmanuella Dickson, (14), Squash Ariel McCuaig, (13), Squash Isaiah Miller, (13), Squash Husam Shallo, (15), Squash Ramzi Abdullahi, (18), Track &Field) Chelsea Agyemang, (15), Track & Field Emmanuel Felices, (14), Track & Field Nathan Friginette, (16), Track & Field) Sanjade Hylton, (15), Track & Field Jing Rui (J.R.) Speed, (16), Track & Field Tolulope Taiwo, (16), Track & Field Kha Vi An Tran, (15), Volleyball (17 applications, all received funding)

2016 Recipients 2 Track & Field athletes, 2 time recipients 1 Track & Field athlete, 3 time recipient 1 Volleyball athlete, 3 time recipient

2017 Application Applications will be posted at June 1, 2016 Criteria for funding included in application form Application deadline October 31, 2016