ACCESS Community Capital Fund

Thank you to everyone who’s joined us for so far.
Your generosity fuels the dreams of entrepreneurs across Canada — from first-time business owners to community builders creating jobs and hope.

There’s still time to give and make a difference.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more inclusive economy.
Donate here: https://accessccf.com/donate-to-access/

Sarah Eichstedt joined ACCESS as a Volunteer in November of 2023, starting as the program coordinator for the Women’s Business Launch and now volunteering as the coordinator for the Small Business Accelerator Program. In this role, Sarah introduces the facilitators, makes sure the sessions run smoothly, and answers any questions that the participants or facilitators have.

As for why Sarah – the first-year university student and one of our youngest volunteers to date – decided to take time out of her busy schedule to volunteer at ACCESS? She connected with our mission.

“I’m really interested in equal opportunities for different marginalized groups, such as women or people who don’t have financial access to starting their business,” Sarah said. “As soon as the position popped up online, I was immediately interested.”

As a University of Toronto student studying accounting with a focus on data science, Sarah’s volunteer position doesn’t overlap much with her schooling; however, one of her favourite parts of the role is hearing different people’s stories. “[The participants] are so interested in what they’re doing, and they’re really passionate about their businesses,” Sarah said. “That’s what I like hearing most.”

Happy National Volunteer Week! A huge thank you to all of our amazing Volunteers! We couldn't do our work without you. If you are interested in getting involved with ACCESS, please visit our website for more information: https://lnkd.in/dkeZax7r

“I didn’t have a lot of experience with working with newcomers to Canada before, but it seemed like an area that needed more attention than it’s getting in this country, so I thought I’d dip my toe in and see if it’s something that works for me,” Loren Kousaie said.

Loren has been an integral part of ACCESS despite only volunteering for just about one year. Initially drawn to facilitating for the Women’s Business Accelerator Program, Loren’s journey with us has been a dynamic and everchanging one, one where he embraces new opportunities as they arise.

“I’ve found that the role has been to kind of say, ‘Yes, I think I’d be interested in helping,’ and as it turns out, there are lots of different ways to help at ACCESS,” Loren said. His willingness to say yes to opportunities demonstrates not only his dedication to supporting the community that we serve but it reflects ACCESS’ goal of saying yes to our Clients who come to us looking for support.

Loren’s decision to volunteer with ACCESS stemmed from his desire to seek meaningful avenues to make an impact after transitioning away from his professional career. Serendipitously, Loren stumbled upon ACCESS, recognizing the opportunity to bring his professional background to assist newcomers to Canada.

“When I first got into it, I thought, ‘I’m gonna get to help people who want to be entrepreneurs but have no idea how to get started,’ but I quickly realized I would be learning so much more from them,” Loren said. “It’s an awesome experience to be part of for eight weeks and sometimes beyond.”

How can you get involved with ACCESS? Visit https://lnkd.in/dkeZax7r to view the exciting ways to make a meaningful impact on our Clients.