About Us
Making An Impact
We’re fostering relationships and building deep connections between business, government, philanthropy, and the black community.
We’re raising charitable funds and directly providing them to black organizations that are making an impact in the black community.
We’re also showcasing the talent within our community and highlighting the success of our brothers and sisters in a meaningful way.
We are Brothers Who Care.
An In-Depth Look Into BWC
An In-Depth Look Into BWC
Our Mission
It is our mission to leverage the power of collective fundraising through a transparent, community organized, trusted decision-making process and directs funds to impact key issues affecting the Black community.
Our Vision
It is our vision to equip and inspire leaders to be all that they can be by drawing on the power of the collective. We will create a Center of Influence (COI) that will mobilize Social, Political and Economic growth and outcomes.
An In-Depth Look Into BWC
Our Mission
It is our mission to leverage the power of collective fundraising through a transparent, community organized, trusted decision-making process and directs funds to impact key issues affecting the Black community.
Our Vision
It is our vision to equip and inspire leaders to be all that they can be by drawing on the power of the collective. We will create a Center of Influence (COI) that will mobilize Social, Political and Economic growth and outcomes.
Our Mission
It is our mission to leverage the power of collective fundraising through a transparent, community organized, trusted decision-making process and directs funds to impact key issues affecting the Black community.
Our Vision
It is our vision to equip and inspire leaders to be all that they can be by drawing on the power of the collective. We will create a Center of Influence (COI) that will mobilize Social, Political and Economic growth and outcomes.
Our Core Values
Take Our Community to the Next Level
Transparent, community-organized, trusted, and directing funds to impact where it matters most.
Community
We care about the well being of our community and through unified action endorse the power of the collective through Sharing, Learning and Acting. To facilitate this, we are building out a tight interconnected and trusted network of Giving and Receiving.
Brotherhood
We believe in supporting brothers to become Social, Political and Economical leaders. Focused on Brothers with a desire to do well, no matter where they are in the career path and create and avenue for them to further excel.
Family
We believe in establishing a strong foundation for our children and support each other to create the required exposure to facilitate their growth.
Health and Wellness
We care about the well being of our community and through unified action endorse the power of the collective through Sharing, Learning and Acting. To facilitate this, we are building out a tight interconnected and trusted network of Giving and Receiving.
Financial Growth
We believe in identify and executing opportunities to increase wealth, promote business ownership, partnership and investment.
Philanthropy
We Meet
We meet 4 times a year
We Share
We share each time we meet, we collectively SHARE news of critical issues happening in our cities that will change lives.
We Vote
We vote each time we meet, we VOTE on the most influential initiative to shift the needle in the next 3-months. Members should use the nomination template here. There is a sample charity nomination here. Each member may vote (by ballot) for one of the three charities.
We Donate
The organization with the most votes will be the recipient charity. Each member commits to DONATE $100 to the recipient charity for a total group donation of $10,000 or more. Members who did not vote for the selected organization agree to make their donation regardless. Members can, of course, feel free to donate their money or time privately to the other two charities if they wish. Members will receive a tax receipt directly from the charity. Members who are unable to attend an event are expected to make their donation leveraging the assistance of another member.
Charities under consideration must serve the Greater Toronto Area, provide individual tax receipts directly to contributing members and must agree not to give out member information to any third parties except for tax purposes.
We Network
The power of getting together with like minded individuals, we NETWORK, and exploit our collective talents and reap extraordinary benefits. We will create and develop a fellowship and bond between Brothers who want to help and support each other regardless of race, religion or culture.
BWC has reached 100,000 Canadians and has directed over $50,000 to Black charities and non-profits that are focused on building stronger black communities in Canada.
Leadership and Development Pillar
Assembling trusted advisors to develop and implement the strategic actions plans set in motion by the Brothers Who Care.
Through formal and informal education and understand the dynamics of how these two play together to drive sustained success.
By inciting ways to communicate your vision self, community and business and determining ways to onboard people, work towards shared goals, build a support mechanisms, and play it back with an active focus on developing the potential of future leaders.
By identify the barriers to change, developing strategies to overcome, establishing clear goals and milestones and enlisting the support of others through clear communications.
By developing a mindset and environment that encourages outside of the box thinking and creativity, and allowing no ideas to be dropped along the way while demonstrating respects by adding “AND” and not BUT” to ideas.
By continuously assessing current state. searching and presenting growth strategies and opportunities for self, community and business and exploiting opportunities as they arise and proactively position for future state ones.
By understand that unless there is a continued focus on social good, success will be continuously be exposed to unrest. With a totality view on upliftment, we not lose sight to the belief that I am my Brother’s Keeper.
Meet The BWC Team
David Griffiths
President and Founder
Always known as the person who can mobilize and bring people together for a common cause, David is now ready to launch his new initiative – “Brothers Who Care.” This basis of this passion project is to bring like-minded individuals together from across the GTA and Ontario to collectively give back with big impact and minimal effort. As well, to create and develop a fellowship and bond between brothers who want to help and support each other regardless of race, religion or culture.
David Griffiths: President and Founder
The youngest of 10 children, David was born in Manchester, Jamaica and immigrated to Canada at the age of 14. His parents and extended family have always instilled and reinforced the importance of giving back and sharing with the community at a very young age. Those beliefs and values taught to David as a youth have continuously been a moral compass for him in his life journey.
Within a few months of his arrival in Canada, David joined the York Youth Council (then one of the six boroughs in Toronto) where he put his leadership skills to good use, first by volunteering on a consistent basis leading various community initiatives and events as Chair of the Council. Being a natural born leader, David was also Student Council President at Weston CI and went on to starting the first chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers(NSBE) in Windsor, ON where he received his degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering.
Upon graduating from university, and a two-year stint working in North Carolina, David spent the next 6 years (2002 – 2008) volunteering at various organizations in Toronto. It was during this time that he reengaged on large scale action and leadership to change the state of the city and the negative impact it was having on the youth and their communities. One of these most notable changes happened with the Jamaican Canadian Association where David, first as the Youth Chair and subsequently the association’s President, created a legacy scholarship where youth have an opportunity to earn and receive funding for post secondary education, an initiative that still happens to this day. Since then, David continues to lend his efforts and expertise towards social change by sitting on the Boards of various organizations.
Always known as the person who can mobilize and bring people together for a common cause, David is now ready to launch his new initiative – “Brothers Who Care.” This basis of this passion project is to bring like-minded individuals together from across the GTA and Ontario to collectively give back with big impact and minimal effort. As well, to create and develop a fellowship and bond between brothers who want to help and support each other regardless of race, religion or culture.
As David explains, this call to action is his purpose in life; it’s a tribute to his Mother’s values and the humble beginnings he came from. With “Brothers Who Care”, David hopes that this initiative’s power and influence will inspire people to give back. He believes that collectively we can find the resources and build the foundation needed to influence major changes in our communities.
Management Team
Valentine Anozie
VP Business Development
Valentine Anozie
Valentine Anozie is a strategist with a deep interest in leveraging big data to identify opportunities and manage risk. Over the past 15 years, he honed his skills and knowledge in governance, finance, strategic analysis and partnership development across various sectors including IT, insurance, transportation, and finance.
Valentine is currently a Director, Information Delivery at Travelers Canada and much of his work focus on influencing business strategy based on translating insights to business value.
Valentine brings a unique perspective to building community. He was born in Romania and has lived in Nigeria and the United States before he settled in Canada. His lived experience from different parts of the world contribute to his ability and passion for creating resilient communities. He also enjoys sharing his experiences with the next generation through mentoring students and budding entrepreneurs.
Valentine is a big believer in the “pay it forward” principle and joining BwC enables him to continue serving his community. Valentine holds an MPA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison
Mario Griffiths
VP Membership Experience
Mario Giffiths
Mario is a Manager of Customer Experience Solutions at TD bank and his career spans a decade in financial services. He is also a Lead Advisor as part of Junior Achievement Company Program centered around youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. Mario has been part of numerous organizations focused on promoting financial literacy and has delivered financial literacy workshops across the GTA. Mario completed his undergraduate at University of Guelph-Humber with a specialization in Finance. Mario is an up and coming professional with a passion for giving back and making an impact in the Black Community
Wayne Samuels
VP Events
Wayne Samuels
From his humble beginnings growing up in the Toronto, Canada; Wayne has always prided himself on being a hard working individual that knows having a great passion for what you love to do will pay off. He has been able to share his talents and knowledge with so many people and has been instrumental in developing and building the careers of many individuals.
Wayne’s rise to the top has been a long and continuous journey that started back in 1995, at that time he was presented with an opportunity to be a part of an “all hip-hop” dance agency that was being formed by Luther Brown (Artistic Director/Choreographer). He clearly remembers the day he received the phone call from Luther that would eventually change his life forever.
After that call, the world famous – Do Dat Dance Agency was formed in 1995, Wayne was appointed the Head of Finance as this new company started to build its legacy. In its early stages, Do Dat performed at many of the premiere events in the city and provided dancers for some of the biggest urban artists in Canada. After putting together a roster of over 40 dancers and being recognized by industry professionals’ countrywide for 5 years, Do Dat in the early 2000’s disbanded our agency operations and transformed into a boutique company that specialized in offering choreographers and dancers career management. It was at this time that the company refocused and rebranded itself as – Do Dat Entertainment; Wayne was given the position in the newly formed organization as Co-Owner and Business Manager.
Over the past 15 years, Wayne has been very influential in growing and expanding the careers of his clientele. To date he still continues to manage and oversee the career of international artistic director/choreographer – Luther Brown, his biggest and most successful client.
Always striving for something bigger, Wayne expanded into the field of Artist Development Consultation and opened up a new management/consultation company – Wired Management Inc. This new venture allowed him to continue building his portfolio of talent while expanding his business in the ever-changing world of entertainment. He has over the past 5 years consulted for artists such as Victoria Duffield, Q-Benjamin, Mia Martina, Danny Fernandes and Keshia Chante. He also has consulted for special events, projects, music videos and television shows, such as: 2015 PanAm Games Opening Ceremony with Cirque Du Soleli, Schwarzkopf Professional Canada Hair Shows in (Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles and Calgary), Carly Rae Jespen at the 2013 Junos, Avril Lavigne for the 2013 MMVA Awards, the feature flim: ‘Step Up 5’, The Weeknd – “Live For” music video and CBC’s dramatic series – “Murdoch Mysteries”
Throughout this amazing journey, Wayne never forgets his humble beginnings and is always looking to open doors and provide opportunities for the next generation of young artists and entrepreneurs. He constantly donates his time to various local community groups such as: Just BGRAPHIC, The St. Alban Boys & Girls, The City of Toronto and The Kids of Tomorrow. He says, “I want to be able to provide knowledge and experience to empower the next generation to let them know that if you have a passion and a dream, anything is possible!”