The Beekay Foundation is a private family foundation created by Kristin Blakely and David Kozman along with their three children. Together, they built the foundation based upon the values of Advocacy, Impact and Inspiration.
The central aim is to bring about positive social change and progress, with a focus on sustainability and equity of opportunity for all. The hope is that the Foundation will evolve and expand, forming a legacy that inspires ongoing discovery, compassion and advocacy.
An approach to giving that addresses the inherent power imbalances between funders, nonprofits and the communities they serve.
At its core, trust-based philanthropy is about redistributing power – systemically, organizationally and interpersonally – in service of a healthier and more equitable nonprofit ecosystem. On a practical level, this includes flexibility in funding, streamlined applications and reporting, and a commitment to building relationships based on transparency, dialogue, and mutual learning.
* Allyship is an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group
Dr. Kristin Blakely is a public sociologist committed to advancing gender equity through scholarly teaching and research, advocacy, governance and philanthropy. She has a PhD in Sociology and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Kristin has had leadership roles on the boards of YWCA Toronto, YWCA Canada, the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF) and the Governing Council of Sinai Hospital. She was a representative at the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women for Sociologists for Women and Society; was an evaluator and mentor for the FORA Network’s “Girls on Board” program; and was a member of the Consultative Council for the Gender Equality Network – a Government of Canada WAGE project. At present, Kristin is chair of CWF’s Teen Healthy Relationships Advisory Committee, a director on the board of the York School and chair of its Advancement Committee, a member of the board of advisors for Vitala Global, and a director on the board of Women Moving Millions. Kristin is involved in ongoing research in the areas of miscarriage, early pregnancy care, and reproductive justice.
David Kozman is President of Armitage Capital Corp. and Fullerton Properties. Prior to founding these companies, David practiced law at a firm in Toronto and worked as an investment advisor at Merrill Lynch and CIBC. He holds a Juris Doctor from DePaul University, an MBA from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto.
Mathew is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Armitage Capital Corp. and Fullerton Properties. Mathew is a Charted Professional Accountant, holds an MBA from Drexel University and a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University.
Jessica is the Office Manager for Armitage Capital Corporation and is responsible for the administrative activities of the Beekay Foundation.
The Beekay Foundation operates on the traditional territory of many Indigenous Nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 or the “Dish With One Spoon” treaty with the Mississaugas of the Credit. We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this land in community with each other as we endeavour to build a more equitable, sustainable and just society for all.
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