$500,000 Donation to Pathways to Education
Greg Kiessling and Pam Isaak's personal gift helps pave the road to success for Regent Park youth.

"It is through the generous gifts of our donors that The Pathways to Education™ Program is able to continually realize its goals," said Carolyn Acker, Executive Director of the Regent Park Community Health Centre. "Financial support is critical to our program and Greg and Pam's very generous donation is extremely appreciated by everyone involved. It will go a very long way to deliver an outstanding return on social investment in our community."

"Education is simply the best solution for overcoming the disadvantages of poverty and Pathways turns theory into practice," said Greg. "The program is proving year after year that given the appropriate combination of supports, youth from Regent Park will be as successful as their peers across Toronto."

Beyond their financial support, Greg and Pam dedicate their personal time to the program. Greg began volunteering with The Pathways to Education™ Program after hearing about it during his volunteer work at Nelson Mandela Park Public School in December 2001. By January 2002, Greg was one of the members of the Pathways Development Committee. In February 2003 he became Chair of the Development Committee.

"It took a very special environment - The Regent Park Community Health Centre - and a special group of visionaries - its Board of Directors, community residents and volunteers - who had an idea and turned it into a fully functioning program with outstanding results," said Greg. "Pam and I salute the energy and determination that the program team leaders bring to the program and the kids that continue to make this vision of success a reality. I feel very lucky to have been recruited onto the team".

"Our association with the program is wonderfully rewarding," said Pam. "Pathways is pragmatic, delivers results on a shoestring, and is constantly improving and reinventing itself. Its passion and excitement clearly infects all the staff and volunteers. We truly believe in the goals of the program and in the ability of the team to deliver on the vision".

Greg and his wife Pam contributed more than $50,000 to the program in 2002/2003. In December 2003, they announced that they would donate an additional $500,000 during 2004/2005 from the Kiessling/Isaak Family Flow Through Fund at the Toronto Community Foundation.

For more information about Pathways to Education, contact Matthew Airhart at (416) 642-1570 extension 228.