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Collaboration to incubate new ideas and support social entrepreneurs

and 91��ɫ have launched Change Inc., a collaboration that will incubate and invest in promising innovations to tackle complex social issues and build capacity in 91��ɫ Region.

Daniele Zanotti, CEO of United Way, and Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation at 91��ɫ, made the announcement at Deloitte’s head offices in Vaughan as part of United Way Week (Oct. 4 to 8).

“We are proud to announce Change Inc. − a critical strategy in United Way’s impact agenda − in collaboration with 91��ɫ and our advisory group of business leaders,” said Zanotti.  “For our region to be great for all residents, we need a new infrastructure to incubate ideas and shift the way we solve social problems.”

“Change Inc. is transformative for 91��ɫ, for United Way and for capacity building in our community,” said Shapson. “Change Inc. will provide seed funding, space and support services to social innovators and entrepreneurs. It will provide better access to 91��ɫ’s research, graduate students and the programs − such as knowledge mobilization − that support their work with the region. It will match social innovators with business-leader mentors. This approach advances and broadens 91��ɫ’s innovation agenda, builds on our strong partnership with United Way, and engages 91��ɫ Region’s corporate leaders in social innovation, which is a persistent gap in Canada’s innovation agenda.”

Change Inc. will work with its Innovation Advisory Board, established in June, to actively develop a sustainable strategy. Co-chaired by Zanotti and Shapson, its current members include:
·         Charles Beer, board chair, United Way of 91��ɫ Region.
·         Anthony Gallo, vice-president, Social Media, OpenText
·         Pat Horgan, vice-president, Manufacturing, Development and Operations, IBM
·         Debora Kelly, editor-in-chief, 91��ɫ Region Media Group
·         Young Park, sector vice-president, CGI
·         Avi Pollock, head, Applied Innovation and Strategic Planning, RBC

“Change Inc. builds on the United Way’s Strength Investments announced earlier this week,” said Zanotti. “Together with our current program funding, Strength Investments and Change Inc. provide a continuum of support for people, groups and agencies doing good work across 91��ɫ Region.”  Information about the .

“Congratulations to United Way, 91��ɫ and the business advisory board for disrupting the status quo with the announcement of Change Inc. − an opportunity to research, try and scale new ideas to address social challenges,” said Lorrie King, partner, , and member of the 2010 United Way Campaign Cabinet. “Deloitte is a champion of United Way and a champion of innovation. At Deloitte, innovation is at the very cornerstone of our corporate strategic directions, and our own leading-edge research, across all sectors, clearly identifies innovation as the driver of long-term success and sustainability.”

Over the coming months, Change Inc. will announce its office location and release information about a community innovation summit, pilot projects and funding opportunities.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin