North York, Ontario — On October 17, 2024, CARSTAR Downsview, owned by Mike Cherneta and Kapi Komera of MGM Group, celebrated the success of its “Backpacks to Smiles” campaign, which aimed to collect school supplies for underserved youth at the MLSE Launchpad.
According to a recent press release about the charity campaign, CARSTAR Downsview initially launched the school supply drive from September 1 to 30, 2024. The drive gathered character-themed backpacks, calculators, folders, notebooks, pencils, rulers and colouring pens.
In addition to generous community donations, the press release further highlighted how CARSTAR Downsview contributed directly to the initiative to enhance its impact.
Moreover, on October 17, the CARSTAR Downsview team celebrated the success of the campaign by welcoming representatives from the MLSE Foundation, including Matthew Teague and Brian Bowman, along with the Toronto Raptors mascot, The Raptor.
Here, the event marked the handover of the collected supplies to the MLSE Launchpad.
During an interview about the event, co-owner Kapi Komera reflected on the personal significance of the campaign: “growing up, I didn’t always have access to basic school supplies like backpacks and pencils. Being in a position now where I can give these items to kids who need them is incredibly fulfilling. I can’t wait to see the smiles on their faces when they receive these supplies.”
Collin Welsh, Ontario Zone Director, CARSTAR Canada further commented that “we are thrilled with the community’s generous response to our school supply drive. This initiative not only provides essential resources for underserved youth, but also fosters a sense of hope and support within our community. Together, we can make a real difference in the lives of these young students, and we are proud to be part of this important mission.”
