As we continue to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, we are grateful for the diverse voices around our Board table. Directors like Natalie bring clarity, intuition, creativity and vision to our organization and we are so honoured to have them. Click on the link to learn more about Natalie and her vision for Niagara.
NCF’s Board of Directors are the strategic thinkers, governance experts and financial professionals that make our organization thrive. Under their leadership NCF has grown from a small foundation of $200,000 to Niagara’s philanthropic leader with $77.5 million in assets, in a short 22 years. Our Directors are our ambassadors, opening doors for future fundholders and making connections for further impact within the charitable sector. They are our face out in the community and our champions within the market place.
But this group of directors does not remain static. Each year, our nominating committee helps us find some the best that Niagara has to offer and invites them to join our organization to help guide and shepherd our growth and evolution. These new Directors help expand our definitions of philanthropy and challenge us to think in new ways, keeping us up-to-speed with the priorities of Niagara. This spring, we welcomed Natalie Apparicio-Farrell to our Board and it is our privilege to introduce her to you today.
Natalie comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, a breadth of experience and a needed perspective around the table. August is Black Philanthropy Month, an international campaign to “celebrate and elevate African-descent giving and funding equity.” We asked Natalie if she would be willing to share her interview this month. NCF has a long way to go as we continue down the path to becoming a more diverse, inclusive and equitable organization. Diverse representation around the board table and within our grant making has much room for growth and improvement and having Natalie join our Board at this stage of developement is a privilege we do not take lightly. Thank you Natalie for lending us your voice and coming alongside us as we journey towards equity, reconciliation and inclusion.
We have asked Natalie a few simple questions to help us get to know her.
Tell us about your connection to Niagara.
N: I migrated to Canada in December 2011 after getting married to my husband, who is Canadian. I closed my medical practice in Trinidad, and landed in Niagara Falls in the winter of 2011. Niagara has been my new home since then.
What expertise or experience do you bring to the NCF board?
N: I bring diverse expertise as a professional with experience as a physician, business owner and wealth advisor in the finance sector. I can provide a different perspective and voice, not only by leveraging my unique career path, but also on account of my lived experiences as an immigrant woman in Niagara and my network that comprises professionals from among various groups in the community.
Why NCF?
N: Throughout my life, I have always been involved in supporting charities, whether it be giving donations, volunteering with TOES Niagara as mentor to youth and serving as a medical volunteer in underserved communities. I learnt about NCF through a current board member, Natasha Dicienzo, and was impressed with the community impact, operational efficiency and growth of NCF over the years. As my kids are all school age, my ability to pursue my desire to be more involved in the Niagara community increased, so without hesitation, I accepted the opportunity to serve and make a contribution to Niagara through NCF.
What excites you about joining the NCF board?
N: Niagara is growing and attracting an increasingly diverse population. I am eager to use my knowledge and skills to work together with the Board in developing a strategic plan that is creative, thorough and has a significant, long-lasting impact in the region.
What does philanthropy mean to you?
N: Philanthropy means using my skills, knowledge and resources to improve the wellbeing of humanity. It means using assets, monetary or otherwise, in a way that ensures that each and every human being has the opportunity to thrive within the community.
Expertise and Experience Highlights
- Associate Wealth Advisor, Steward Group, iAP Private Wealth
- Life Insurance and Accident and Sickness Insurance Agent, RBC Life Insurance Company
- Investment Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities
- CEO and Owner, MD, MBA, Healthcare Hub LLC
- Family Physician, private practice in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
- LinkedIn Profile: CLICK HERE
Natalie, welcome to NCF’s Board of Directors. We are privileged to have you and we look forward to your contributions in the coming years.
