The Bhayana Family Foundation Awards recognize extraordinary contributions made by United Way Greater Toronto supported agencies and their employees. Front-line staff and middle managers are awarded for their dedication, innovation/creativity, leadership, teamwork and collaboration. In addition to a monetary award, winners will also receive a certificate of recognition.
The 2025 award winners are:
Individual Awards
Dedication: $3,000
This award recognizes employees who are dedicated to the mission, values and goals of their agency and go above and beyond what is expected of them.
Eliza-Beth Barnett-Pommainville
Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society
Kidist Kebede
LOFT Community Services
Suma Balagopal
Caledon Community Services
Innovation & Creativity: $3,000
This award recognizes employees who contribute innovative solutions to their organization by looking for new ways to achieve shared goals.
Claire Perttula
Malvern Family Resource Centre
Leadership: $3,000
This award recognizes employees who demonstrate exemplary leadership capabilities and consistently achieve superior, team-based results.
Inna Kazhdan
Newcomer Centre of Peel
Vivian Nwakaego Etuka
Bethel Outreach Community Services
Kasandra James
Volunteer Toronto
team awards
TEAM ACHIEVEMENT: $7,000*
This award recognizes teams that demonstrate commitment to success through excellent and consistent performance.
Indus Community Services
Adult Day Services Leads
Anju Arora
Kiran Saini
Sundeep Shere
NaMeRes
Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong
Allysha Bertrand
Alysha Woolner
Calvin Scott
Devon Bowyer
Eliza Bovin
Emina Topcagic
Kinji Yamada
Nicole Johnstone
Ruth Trinier
Sabrina Cicansky
Steve Teekens
Trina Cameron
BALANCE for Blind Adults
Bill Phung
Christina Peruzzi
Cristina Lopes
Deborah Gold
Doug Poirier
Karitte Gomez
Kiana Raeesdana
Olivia Pietrzyk
Ronashelle Coro
Victoria Hernandez
Windy Ho-Li
Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women
Anu Sharma
Arun Arokianathan
Blanca Alvarez
Kelia Davis
Nabeela Hamid
Nazlican Kiziltas
Vaibhavi Mahajan
Yougeita Jagdesh
Victim Services of York Region Inc.
On-Scene Crisis Response Team – Project NORTE
Chanda Pundir
Cindy Ngai
Deb Phillips
Holli Yorston
Jasmine De Fina
Madison Blotnicky
Olivia Palmer
Valerie Weber
* Winners of the Team Achievement award are required to use their award for professional development. The type and focus of this development is to be determined by the team and must include all members.
Honourable Mentions
This year’s awards also celebrates the unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership, and remarkable team achievements of individuals who have earned an honourable mention, inspiring others to reach new heights of excellence.
Art Rekhtin
Caledon Community Services
Laura Bowes
Yellow Brick House
Nina Shwaizer Safary
Learning Disabilities Association of York-Simcoe
Viji Rajan
Indus Community Services
Safoura Varagh and Shahrzad Sadeghy
Regent Park Sewing Studio (RPSS),
Toronto Centre for Learning and Development
About the Bhayana Family Foundation
The commitment, leadership and creativity shown by non-profit community agencies and their employees is essential to advancing the common good, building community and neighbourhoods, and strengthening our region.
The Bhayana Family Foundation Awards celebrate the inspiring efforts of staff at United Way-supported agencies whose contributions have been so essential to supporting our community through not just the pandemic but the ongoing social and economic challenges that continue to impact so many.
The Awards are made possible by a generous donation from Madan and Raksha M. Bhayana and the Bhayana Family Foundation. As a former member of United Way Toronto’s Board of Trustees, Raksha is a dedicated community volunteer and a passionate champion for the recognition of those who make a difference in our community every day.
On behalf of the United Way family, we would like to express our admiration and gratitude to Madan and Raksha and the Bhayana Family Foundation.
Meet the recipients of the 2025 Bhayana Family Foundation Awards
Learn more about their remarkable and inspiring work in our communities.