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About Rocco Rossi Successful entrepreneur and business executive, champion fundraiser, a leader in Toronto's not-for-profit sector and dedicated to public service -- these are just a few of the phrases that have been used to describe newly declared Toronto mayoral candidate, 48 year-old Rocco Rossi. Yet in a city where more than half of us come from somewhere else, Rocco's experiences as the son of immigrant parents introduces a unique perspective to this year's mayoral race. Born at Grace Hospital in downtown Toronto and raised in East York and Scarborough, Rocco is the eldest of five children (along with four younger sisters) of Domenico and Domenica Rossi who emigrated from Italy in the late 1950s knowing no English, but who eventually became successful entrepreneurs. Rocco's parents believed strongly in the power of education as the key to a better life, and Rocco absorbed that lesson well. He won a scholarship to attend Upper Canada College, followed by scholarships to McGill University in Montreal (BA Honours) and Princeton University in New Jersey (MA Politics). Rocco's business experience includes senior executive roles at The Boston Consulting Group, The Toronto Star, Labatt/Interbrew , Advanced Material Resources (now NeoMaterials), and MGI Software. In 2004 Rocco was appointed CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and his latent fundraising skills blossomed. Rocco kayaked, biked and climbed his way to fundraising fame, led the campaign to put heart defibrillators in public places and left the Foundation in solid financial health. As a politically involved resident of Toronto, Rocco has supported and campaigned for several Toronto MPs over the years and was the Campaign Manager for John Tory's 2003 Mayoral Campaign. Early in 2009 he answered the call of new Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to overhaul the party's fundraising apparatus. In less than a year in the post he helped more than triple party membership and restore its financial stability. A supporter of many Toronto-based charities and member of several boards in the city past and present including TO 2008 Olympic Bid, United Way of Greater Toronto, New Haven School, Ivey Foundation, and a member of Rotary International, Presidents of Enterprising Organizations and the Young Presidents Organization. Rocco is a resident of midtown Toronto and has been married for 23 years to his wife Rhonnie. They have a 20-year-old son, Domenic John or DJ, who attends King's College in Halifax. |
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