Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $250K to Indigenous mentoring group

Actors and philanthropists Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have made a sizeable donation to a group dedicated to mentoring Indigenous youth as they launch their careers.

Influence Mentoring Society announced they received a $250,000 donation from the celebrity couple in a news release Tuesday.

“All too often, diverse groups are left behind in the things we take for granted. This program aims to rectify that imbalance,” Vancouver-born Reynolds said.

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Influence chairperson Colby Delorme said transfer of knowledge and cultural traditions from elders to young people is an important practice in many Indigenous communities.

“Eliminating … gaps and ultimately increasing Indigenous representation in the private sector, including in management and executive positions, should be a shared journey,” Delorme said.

“We are incredibly grateful to Ryan and Blake for their generous donation … This speaks not only to having the resources available to support Indigenous youth, but also is a signal of true reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.”

Influence connects Indigenous post-secondary students with mentors who have career experience that aligns with their goals. Some mentoring streams include business, technical, financial, community development, and academic.

The organization is based in Calgary but connects proteges to mentors digitally.

 

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