Debra Sandomirsky

By Elaine Smith

 

When Debra Sandomirsky, a partner at Deloitte, first became involved with the Merit Award program, she would get emotional when reading the stories from the applicants. 

“Some of the stories were so sad and I couldn’t imagine where they got their inspiration and energy from,” Debra says.

 

Merit provides bursaries to GTA students who have demonstrated a commitment to their community and their academics in the face of adversity.

 

“Our recipients come from families just trying to do the best with the money they have, and the students are often working one or two jobs, going to school, participating in the community, and, perhaps, caring for younger siblings or an ill parent,” she says.

 

Debra initially took part in the Merit selection committee as a volunteer, recruited by a friend. She was so taken with the cause and the organization that she asked about opportunities to serve on the board. During the past seven years, she has served in many board positions, such as overseeing social media, fundraising and strategic communications. 

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“I enjoy giving back and this is a cause that has meaning for me,” she says. “It’s a grassroots charity, one where you know that the money donated is going mostly to the kids. The organization tries to do things economically so they can put most of the money raised toward bursaries.”

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Debra delights in seeing the impact the bursaries have on individual students. “Seeing the smiles on their faces is wonderful,” she says. “One thousand dollars can make the difference between going to university or not, and it’s great we can do that.

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“But it’s more than just the money. It provides the students a community they can grow up with that helps them get through university. We have a support network of alumni who can provide assistance and guidance on all kinds of things: writing a resume, preparing for an interview or deciding what to wear to an interview.”

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In fact, she is so taken with the Merit Award program that she is encouraging Deloitte to get more involved and bring some of its power to bear in assisting students. This year, the company is hosting the student awardee reception, offering recipients and their parents a glimpse of corporate life in downtown Toronto.

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She has also recruited awardees to work at Deloitte after graduation and hosted fireside chats for alumni to hear about different career opportunities and what it’s like to start out on the career journey. 

 

Debra knows how valuable a post-secondary education is today and wants to see the Merit awardees succeed. “It’s really a boost to their success and self-esteem,” she says. “Some of these students may never have won a thing in their lives, so it’s validating.”

 

She is proud seeing the organization expand to serve schools in Peel Region, as well as in Toronto, and is delighted to be part of that growth.