Biographies

JULIE TOSKAN-CASALE

Julie Toskan-Casale, Canadian business success story and philanthropreneur, believes that as a citizen if you recognize an inequity, you have a responsibility to address it. Since co-founding the Toskan Casale Foundation in 2001 together with her husband Victor Casale and brother Frank Toskan, Julie has dedicated her resources to making positive change for individuals in communities across Canada, and internationally. The Toskan Casale Foundation is a family foundation dedicated to the supporting and strengthening of local, community-based social service agencies and is the innovator of the internationally successful Youth in Philanthropy Initiative (YPI).

In 1985, Julie’s brother Frank and the late Frank Angelo founded M.A.C Cosmetics; now one of the world’s most recognized and trusted brands. Julie and her husband Victor were co-founders of M.A.C. - a groundbreaking company. Julie headed up the global marketing and public relations division. She also oversaw the M.A.C AIDS Fund, a foundation which to date has raised hundreds of millions to help people living with HIV and AIDS.

In 1998, after M.A.C was sold to Estée Lauder, Julie decided to recalibrate her career direction and focus on the aspect of M.A.C that she found most rewarding: philanthropy. Julie wanted to practice an engaged form of philanthropy and was determined to build a philanthropic venture with a strategic underpinning. In preparation, Julie became the first Canadian to graduate from the renowned Rockefeller Foundation’s Philanthropy Workshop.

In 2001, Julie created the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), a high school program providing students with a real philanthropy learning experience that researches and benefits local, community-based social service agencies. Since its launch, the program has enabled young philanthropists to donate over $4 million.

A true maverick and activator, Julie thinks big and believes in the unlimited potential of both people and socially relevant opportunities, and to date, tens of thousands of individuals have been the positive beneficiaries of that faith.

Julie believes that every day is a new beginning, and she is just getting started.