Michael Bartlett

Executive Director

Skills: As a strategist, builder, networker & collaborator, I work with talented professionals and passionate volunteers to execute leading-edge fundraising initiatives and outcome-driven granting programs.  I am committed to developing meaningful relationships with individuals and businesses in an effort to build a tangible – and lasting – impact in our community.

Pre-Game Pep Talk: “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”  Vince Lombardi

Coaching Strategy: Our team will work tirelessly to raise the funds necessary to directly impact the lives of youth, by providing them with access to first-class sporting facilities and programs.

Tanya Mruck

Manager, Community Investment & Communications

Skills: Fixing up rinks, courts and pitches. Giving kids access to sport and recreation. Talking about the impact we make.

Best part of playing in Toronto: My teammates… and all the hot dog carts

Highlight: Watching youth posing on the floor taking pictures beside the new O'Connor Hawks centre court logo on their refurbished court. They were so proud of their refreshed facility.

Jillian Svensson

Manager, Fundraising (Mat Leave)

Skills: Manage all fundraising initiatives outside of the 50/50 program including events, third party events, corporate giving and in-arena fundraising.

Favourite Diva: Celine Dion

Highlight: Brian Burke challenging all of the donors at our Leafs Have a Heart Dinner to match his donation to the Foundation, which set off a flurry of donations from guests, MLSE executives and our players.

Alicia Erz

Coordinator, Communications & Charitable Partnerships

Skills: I’m the voice of the Foundation in the social media world, manage our website, plus I get the chance to work with our charitable partners and grant funds to organizations that get kids involved in sports.

Warm Up Song: It’s My Life- Bon Jovi

Highlight: Visiting Variety Village after we had granted them funds to purchase new wheelchairs and sledges. Not only did I get to see first-hand all the great things Variety Village did for children of all abilities in getting them active in sports and recreation, but I also discovered that they were in need of a safer basketball court for the participants. Because of that visit, we decided to invest even more in Variety Village and refurbished their centre court!

Bridgette Estrela

Coordinator, Community Investment

Skills: Engaging youth, revitalizing communities and building facilities.

Signature Move: Air Kick

Highlight: Walking into Trinity Bellwood’s field house for the first time and being so excited about the work we could do to make it a more functional and safe place for the community and youth. Getting to see the project through its completion (640 volunteer hours later) and then having the chance to celebrate with a Leafs Outdoor Practice on the rink (which we also refurbished) where the crowd of people who came out to watch was 3 rows deep. Ended it off with a group of kids on the ice for a hockey clinic with Wendel Clark.

Jessica Lee

Coordinator, Fundraising

Skills: I coordinate in-arena initiatives to maximize donor engagement, the fan experience and fundraising campaigns in support of the Foundation.

Warm-Up Song: Eye of the Tiger - Survivor (the ultimate pump up song!)

Looking forward to: Giving dedicated fans and donors unique access to their favourite teams and seeing the excitement and support translate into giving kids access to first class facilities in their community.

Eleanor McDonald

Coordinator, Fundraising

Skills: I leverage our players to create unique events and work with engaged donors to host their own events in support of our cause.

Pre-game Meal: Sour Keys and a Diet Coke

Highlight: Working closely on the court refurbishment at John Innes Community Centre. The staff and the community were amazing to work with. Got their hands dirty with us and got the job done! The moment I saw the faces of all the kids when the Toronto Raptors showed up at their court in their community I knew I was in the right role at the right organization.

James King

Manager, Fundraising

Skills: Leading the team responsible for all Team Up Foundation signature fundraising events, in-arena fundraising campaigns and community supported events.

Pre-Game Meal: Coffee

Highlight: Spending the day with Mats Sundin as he participated in a learn to skate program with local elementary school kids at the Team Up Foundation's newly refurbished Angela James Arena.