GreekTown is the largest Greek neighbourhood in Canada and one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Toronto! Toronto is home to the third largest Greek community outside of Greece, after New York and Melbourne, and the Danforth is where the people of Toronto continue to enjoy Greek heritage and cuisine. The GreekTown on the Danforth BIA is a not-for-profit organization, run by a volunteer board, chaired by Mr. Constantine Voidonicolas. The GreekTown on the Danforth BIA runs Canada’s largest street Festival – the Taste of the Danforth — with approximately 1.6 million attendees. The Festival combines exquisite food, culture and music with extraordinary philanthropy to benefit the local community.

Over the years, GreekTown has donated more than $2 million to Toronto East General Hospital. In 2012, GreekTown committed to a further $500,000 to enhance paediatric care. During the course of the Festival, as part of the Guinness World Record attempt for the World’s Largest Zorba Dance and World’s Largest Yogourt Bowl, money was donated to Prostate Cancer Canada. This year proceeds from the Guinness World Records challenges for the “Largest Tug of War” and “Most People” Participating in a Long Jump were donated to Athletics Ontario. As part of GreekTown’s annual “March of the Santas”, money is raised for Princess Margaret Hospital through the sale of Toronto Firefighters’ Calendars, and toys and donations are gathered for the CP24 CHUM Christmas Wish. GreekTown also makes financial donations to the Christmas Wish.

It’s not only the big charities that benefit from GreekTown’s largesse – last year the BIA donated $10,000 in Smart Boards ($5,000 each) to local schools (William McCordic School and William Burgess School) for use by children with special needs. Further funds were donated to William Burgess. GreekTown also donates to a number of other local charities, including Toronto Crime Stoppers, 55 Division’s Youth Scholarship Fund, Riverdale Share Community Association, The East York Seniors’ Foundation amongst others. GreekTown has also donated to Dr. Phyllis Billia’s cancer research at Toronto General and Toronto Western Hospitals. GreekTown naturally supports a number of Greek initiatives, including donating to University of Toronto’s Greek studies program, the Greek Community, the Hellenic Canadian Federation of Ontario, Nefeli (theatre and dance), Greek Orthodox Community of Mississauga, and Hellenic Home for the Aged.

For further information, contact:

Howard Lichtman
416 402 4948
howard@lightning-group.com