Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Explores Philanthropy Within Canada's Chinese Community

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2013) - The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is hosting a conference to discuss the giving habits, traditions, priorities and charitable interests of Ontario's Chinese community.

The Chinese Philanthropy Conference will provide fundraising professionals, volunteers and donors with strategic insights about giving amongst Chinese-Canadian philanthropists. It will also focus on inclusion-oriented cultural training for non-profit leaders.

The Honourable Vivienne Poy, Canada's first senator of Asian descent (retired), chancellor emerita of the University of Toronto, and philanthropist, will deliver the keynote address.

"AFP is leading the way to making philanthropy in Canada inclusive of all ethno-cultural groups," says Conference Chair, Justin Poy, who is also a key figure in many charitable organizations in Ontario. "We are bringing together many stakeholders to understand and incorporate the philanthropic potential of the Chinese diaspora. In doing so, we hope that ethno-cultural groups, such as the Chinese in Canada, will be included from the early conceptual stages all the way through to execution, whether it be for outreach campaigns or simple awareness projects."

Other speakers at this conference will include Dr. Ming-Tat Cheung (Chairman of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto), Peter Chang (Founder of the Hong Fook Foundation), Hugh Zhao (President of the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada) and Allen Ma (President of the Canada Shanghai Business Association).

This conference is part of the Inclusive Giving Initiative recently launched by AFP. This ground-breaking series focuses on highlighting the philanthropic traditions of diverse communities in Ontario. It is funded by the Ontario government, through the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, and chaired by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, The Honourable David C. Onley. http://afpinclusivegiving.ca/

ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED: Media should register at the Media Desk no later than 11:30 AM.