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The is a national charitable foundation that funds community-based, grassroots environmental projects across Canada. Since 1990, TD FEF has supported more than 29,750+ grassroots environmental projects across Canada with over $117,000,000 in funding. 

In her role, Carolyn helps to connect organizations with donor-driven granting programs and shares their impactful stories with customers and community members.   

“One of the things that I love about my role is that not only do I get the insight and connection to participate in projects on the ground, but I can also see how it all fits together,” said Carolyn. “Working on a national scale, I’ve been able to see how funding is distributed across the country to help drive significant changes. For example, TD FEF donates to organizations that promote nature-based educational programming to help encourage environmental stewardship across the country.”

Carolyn’s love for nature is what fuels her purpose. She plays an active volunteering role in her community, sitting on the board of ; an organization dedicated to promoting urban parks, and is a member of the executive management committee for ; a community of leaders advancing environmental action and economic prosperity across the Greater pc28¹ÙÍøArea.

“The connection point between community and environment has always been important to me,” said Carolyn. “Growing up, I spent a lot of my time outdoors, but it wasn’t until university that I realized nature was a career path.”

One initiative that she is especially passionate about is , an annual event where employees from across the bank can volunteer with local organizations to plant trees alongside community members. Carolyn has been involved in tree planting for so long, that she can now visit sites planted years ago and see many of them transform into forests.

Carolyn’s community impact was recently recognized with a King Charles III Coronation Medal — a national honour for Canadians who have made a significant contribution to their country. 

“It really means a lot to me to be recognized for the work of the Foundation,” said Carolyn. “Our work goes beyond funding grants — we’re an active participant in conversations on how to continue to evolve, adapt and increase the relevancy of the program and highlight the importance of environmental education.”

As the Foundation celebrates its 35-year milestone, Carolyn reflects on how far they’ve come.

“The origins of TD FEF coincide with a time when people were really turning their attention to the environment,” said Carolyn. “For a lot of the groups we fund, the beginning of the Foundation coincides with the beginning of their stories. Having that longevity and consistent involvement in that space reflects the long-term commitment of the bank to the environmental sector.” 

Beyond TD FEF, Carolyn encourages fellow TD employees and the broader public to take action in their communities — and there is no better time to get started than April which marks both Earth Month and Global Volunteer Month.    

“Have a look around and see what’s happening in your own community,” said Carolyn. “Earth Month provides a moment to catalyze action and is a great opportunity to think about the impact you have on the world around you.”

Looking to the future, Carolyn is inspired to keep sharing and learning from her peers. 

“Through the work the Foundation does and the communities we connect with, there’s so much hope,” said Carolyn. “There are so many people with so many great ideas. What I’m looking forward to is seeing those wonderful projects continue to grow and make a difference in our communities.”