On Nelson Mandela Day, AFC Toronto honoured four community leaders whose work reflects the values the day celebrates – leadership, legacy, service, and the belief that sport has the power to change the world.

On Saturday, July 18, AFC Toronto celebrated Nelson Mandela Day at York Lions Stadium – a day dedicated to honouring leadership, legacy, and the role sport can play in driving meaningful change. As Nelson Mandela himself believed, sport “has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”

Ahead of the match, AFC Toronto launched its Community Change Champion initiative, inviting fans, organizations, and communities across the GTA to nominate someone making a lasting impact through mentorship, advocacy, inclusion, or community service. The response was overwhelming – and the stories that came in were a reminder of how much change is already happening, quietly and consistently, in our communities every day.

We are proud to recognize four individuals whose work embodies the spirit of Nelson Mandela Day. One was selected as our inaugural Community Change Champion for a VIP matchday experience and recognition on the field. Three others were honoured as nominees whose contributions to our community deserve to be celebrated.

INAUGURAL COMMUNITY CHANGE CHAMPION

Anita Grant — Founder, Hello Hair — Stoney Creek, Ontario
Anita Grant did not set out to build a movement. She set out to write her daughters a book.

After her first business venture failed and motherhood prompted her to confront her own complicated relationship with her natural hair, Grant channelled that vulnerability into something purposeful. What started as a single children’s book has grown into Hello Hair – a social impact brand that uses textured hair as an entry point to confidence, education, identity, and overall health.

“Hello Hair was born from my own journey of healing my relationship with my hair and wanting my daughters to grow up with the education, representation, and confidence I didn’t always have.”

Hello Hair has since expanded into books, textured-hair dolls, and educational experiences that explore hair through science, wellness, and self-esteem. The brand has been featured in Forbes, Essence, and CBC, and appeared on season 19 of Dragons’ Den. But for Grant, the measure of success has never been media coverage. It has always been the moments she witnesses in her workshops.

“What stays with me most is witnessing the healing that happens in parents while their child begins building a healthier relationship with their hair. You are not only changing how a child sees themselves, you are also helping a parent heal parts of their own story. That is when I am reminded that this work is truly generational.”

Nelson Mandela’s words – “I never lose. I either win or learn” – have shaped her mindset and guided her through the setbacks of entrepreneurship and the slow, steady work of building something meaningful. To be recognized on a day connected to his legacy, she says, is a reminder that change is built through courage, service, and the commitment to keep going.

“Making a difference starts with one person. One child, one family, one conversation, one life. Never underestimate the power of showing up for the person right in front of you.”

COMMUNITY CHANGE CHAMPION RUNNER-UPS

Three additional nominees were recognized for their extraordinary contributions to sport, inclusion, and community service across the GTA.

Sonja Missio — President, Vermilion Vanguard — AFC Toronto Supporters’ Group
Sonja Missio has spent more than two decades using soccer as a platform for inclusion, advocacy, and community building. As President of the Vermilion Vanguard, AFC Toronto’s supporters’ group, a volunteer organizer with Pride House Toronto 2026, and a journalist writing about the intersections of soccer, inclusion, gender, politics, and belonging, she believes the game is about far more than what happens on the pitch. Inspired by the people who came before her, Sonja is committed to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and where no fan feels isolated or unwelcome. To her, community isn't just about finding your people—it's about helping others find theirs and inspiring them to extend that same welcome to someone else. 

“My goal isn’t to offer someone a seat at the table. My goal is to build a bigger table where everyone belongs.”

Paula Monaco  — Volunteer Coach — Hamilton, Ontario
Paula has spent seven years coaching girls’ soccer with Mount Hamilton United and serves as a mentor in the Canada Soccer She CAN Coach program, helping recruit and support female coaches across her club. She also volunteers with the FAB Foundation, guiding girls from lower-income areas through a 12-week running program that culminates in a 5K race. This guidance teaches self-belief, resilience, and the joy of sport along the way. For Paula, giving back is inherited. Her father ran a community soccer club after arriving in Canada, and volunteering has been part of her family’s identity ever since.

“Removing barriers for kids and keeping girls in sport motivate me.”

Christine Boeck — Manager, Outreach Division — Women’s Habitat of Etobicoke
Christine manages a team of trauma counsellors and support workers serving women and families navigating some of the hardest experiences of their lives. A former competitive athlete, certified fitness instructor, and piano teacher, she incorporates sport and music as healing tools in youth programming and fills the gaps she sees. From creating a free community walking club to coaching track and field at a local high school. For Christine, volunteering is essentially a calling. She gives back because she genuinely believes that helping one person ripples outward, and because she has seen firsthand how transformative it is when someone simply feels like they belong.

“I hope that with whatever spare time people have, that they contribute to their communities in ways in which it helps others.”

AFC Toronto would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination. The response was a reminder of how much meaningful work is happening in our communities every day.