The 22nd Annual HOPE Volleyball Tournament

What is HOPE? 

H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Toronto Inc. is a registered charity committed to raising funds for, and awareness of, local charitable organizations that have a particular need and do not receive significant funding from governments or other agencies.

Primarily relying upon volunteers, HOPE has just one full-time staff person and does not rent office space. HOPE strives to have supplies and services donated or provided at discounts wherever possible. This results in a highly efficient fundraising effort maximizing the money raised for the recipient charities.

Our objective is to create a community atmosphere for one day, encouraging people to come out and have a great time, while raising funds and awareness for some very worthy local charities. In doing so HOPE reaches a broader market than is typically reached by most traditions fundraising events.

Our History:

• HOPE Toronto Inc. was created in 1984, following the format of a sister charity that was founded in Ottawa in 1980.
• Like the Ottawa charity, HOPE Toronto started out organizing several dance parties throughout the year, which were very popular and raised about $10-15K.
• In 1988, HOPE Toronto organized a volleyball tournament on Toronto Island, which was attended by 20 teams and raised $2000.
• Since 1988, HOPE has raised money by organizing a large volleyball tournament that is held on Toronto Island in June. Funds are raised through entry fees, pledges, a bar, and corporate sponsorship. Expenses have been kept to a minimum by acquiring needed supplies and services free or at discounts and relying solely on volunteers.
• To date, the annual HOPE Volleyball Tournament has raised over $600,000 for over 40 local charites, and is the largest single day volleyball tournament in Toronto.
• The HOPE Volleyball tournament is co-ed and is developed in such way that anyone can play, whether they are beginners or experts, and for a modest price

The Need:

• Everyone would like to help charities in one way or another. HOPE helps people make the connection between those desires and actual deeds, in a really fun way.
• This year HOPE will help 2 local charities.
• HOPE generally seeks to support smaller charities. We support groups that do not receive a major portion of their regular funding from government agencies, trusts, and/or large fundraising organizations.

The Sport of Volleyball:

• Volleyball ranks as the number one amateur sport in Canada.
• Volleyball is also the number two participation sport in the world, trailing only soccer.
• The sport is growing dramatically in popularity, especially outdoor volleyball, thanks in part, to the inclusion of beach volleyball as an Olympic sport.
• Statistics Canada's findings indicate that over 800,000 people in Canada play volleyball regularly and that most of these players are young and active. The 2nd largest volleyball community in the world is in GTA.
• Over 75% are between the age of 15 and 34. Women comprise nearly one half of the sport's participants.
• It costs very little to play volleyball, especially outdoor volleyball.
• Volleyball is one of a few sports that women and men play together, and at all skill levels.