Dove Men+Care and Toronto Raptors Host Mentor’s Day to Celebrate the Coaches and Leaders Inspiring Youth Through Basketball

Celebrating the leaders whose care and commitment make a lasting difference in youth basketball

TORONTO, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– On December 4th, Dove Men+Care and the Toronto Raptors partnered to celebrate the heroes of basketball behind the scenes: the mentors and coaches whose care, passion, and leadership shape the game both on and off the court. Held at Scotiabank Arena’s IBM Practice Court, Mentor’s Day honoured these community leaders for their dedication to guiding youth, strengthening teams, and inspiring positive change.

Mentor’s Day reflects the Dove Men+Care commitment to inspiring conversation and adding care where it’s most needed, spotlighting the crucial role mentors play in fostering not only athletic but also personal growth. At the center of this initiative is Toronto Raptors Head Coach, Darko Rajaković, named the brand’s first Chief Care Officer (CCO). Rajaković’s vision centers on recognizing and uplifting the mentors, coaches, and leaders who embody the values of compassion, commitment, and community.

“I started coaching at 16 years old, inspired by a close friend and mentor who introduced me to basketball and showed me what it means to be a coach, a leader, and someone who uplifts others,” said Rajaković. “Partnering with Dove Men+Care in their mission was an exciting opportunity to connect our team and organization with the incredible coaches and mentors who are shaping youth basketball across Canada.”

The event combined inspiration, activity, and recognition to honour the impact of mentorship. Mentors shared their approaches to leadership and community engagement before participating in basketball drills led by the Raptors Sports Development Team. Head Coach Darko Rajaković and Assistant Coaches Pat Delany, Jama Mahlalela, and James Wade later joined participants on the court. The day concluded with food, drinks, and a Q&A session hosted by Mariah Amber, the Toronto Raptors in-arena host, celebrating the winners of the Care Squad Contest.

Contest winners, Justin Fields and Paul Maga, were recognized for their exceptional contributions to basketball and their communities. Fields, founder of the Justin Basketball Program in Scarborough, was honored for his seven-day-a-week commitment to mentoring youth. Maga, president of the Dundas Dynamo Basketball Club, was celebrated for his decade of coaching and organizing camps that inspire young athletes both on and off the court.

“Coaching is about guiding athletes during the game, but mentoring goes deeper,” says Maga. “It’s about understanding who they are as individuals, what they’re going through, and how best to support them—whether through positive feedback or constructive criticism. Mentorship means showing genuine interest in their lives and futures, encouraging them, and sharing knowledge to help them grow not just as athletes, but as people.”

Mentor’s Day is a celebration of the profound impact of mentorship in shaping not just athletes, but strong, compassionate individuals and communities. Through this initiative, Dove Men+Care and the Toronto Raptors highlighted the importance of recognizing and honouring the often-unsung leaders who dedicate their time and care to inspiring the next generation. Together, they aim to foster a culture where mentorship is deeply valued, and the power of caring for oneself and others continues to shape the future of basketball and beyond.

For more information on Dove Men+Care visit Dove.ca.

About Dove Men+Care

Dove Men+Care is the first range of products from Dove developed specially for men. Manufactured by Unilever, the line includes the #1 dermatologist recommended male bar and body wash brand. Launched in 2010, the Dove Men+Care portfolio includes bars, body washes, anti-perspirant/deodorants, and hair care. Dove Men+Care is available nationwide in food, drug, and mass outlet stores.

About Unilever North America

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 2.5 billion people every day. We have 149,000 employees and generated sales of €50.7 billion in 2020. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes iconic brand such as: Dove, Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, St. Ives, Suave, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:

• improving the health of the planet;
• improving people’s health, confidence and wellbeing; and
• contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2020 as a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and – for the tenth-consecutive year – as the top ranked company in the 2020 GlobeScan/SustainAbility Sustainability Leaders survey.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca

Contacts

For media inquiries, please contact:
Maddie Watson
maddie.watson@edelman.com
647-861-8955