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We all want to do great things. This blog with help you think about the ways you can achieve greatness through volunteering.

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Meet Our Team: David Allen

Posted By Roxanne English, Community Engagement Assistant, November 14, 2016
Updated: November 11, 2016

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

This may surprise you but Volunteer Toronto doesn't run itself (insert gasp here!). As Canada's largest volunteer centre, we operate on the people power of 8 full-time staff, 5 contract staff, 60 + volunteers and an abundance of passion.

Our team comes from places all over the country and the world; Vancouver, PEI, England, Sri Lanka, USA, Trinidad & Tobago and Grenada to name a few. Each one of us draws from our own unique experiences and contributes our skills in the hopes of building a more caring city.

So far, we have featured Camara Chambers, Director of Community Engagement, our entire Grassroots Growth team, Director of Engaging Organizations, Melina Condren, Kelly DeVries, Community Engagement Coordinator and Sammy Feilchenfeld, our Training Coordinator.

Next up... our Executive Director!

David Allen

WHO: David Allen

ROLE: Executive Director

# OF YEARS AT VT: About 3

PLACE OF BIRTH: Toronto, Ontario

FAVOURITE SONG: "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak: courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Winston Churchill

What do you do at Volunteer Toronto?

I oversee the day-to-day operations of Volunteer Toronto including program delivery, financial control, human resources, funder relations and compliance with legislation. I also work with the Board of Directors in setting policy and strategic direction for the organization

What do you like most about your job?

Working with young, energetic staff. They bring to the workplace extraordinary creativity, teamwork and technological know-how. I am constantly learning from them.

What was your most enjoyable volunteer experience?

I would regularly visit shut-ins on behalf of my church. Social interaction is important to people as they age and lose mobility. It keeps them engaged in the community. I love hearing their stories of yesteryear and receiving their sage advice.

What's one of your hidden talents most people don't know about?

I like to sing. In my youth I performed lead roles in many musical theatre productions and choirs.

Of all your favourite foods, which is one that you would find hardest to give up for the rest of your life and why?

I am embarrassed to say that I could not do without sugar. I love sweets, especially real maple syrup and Hershey candy cane kisses.

What's the most unusual item in your desk drawer?

Despite today's paperless high tech world, I prefer to work with hard copies. In my desk drawer you will find well-used reference books such as the Yellow Pages Directory, Oxford Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus. You'll also find stacks of printed documents waiting to be filed.

Roxanne English supports Volunteer Toronto’s community outreach by coordinating events, delivering presentations on how to volunteer, and representing Volunteer Toronto at events across this city. With Roxanne’s help, we’ll be able to provide more people with information about volunteering in Toronto.