One act of kindness has the potential to change the world. If you ask Sharon Pilgrim, she has seen the truth in this statement for a long time. She has always been motivated by the need to change people’s lives for the better. Sharon has touched and changed the lives of many through her acts of kindness over the years. She credits her mother, Marguerite, for nurturing her spirit of giving as a child.

Guided by her passion to help others, Sharon co-founded the Afro-Canadian Philanthropic Initiative (ACPI) with Mark in 2022. Their shared philosophy, “I am because you are,” embraces the movement of cultivating a conscious paradigm shift within our community of connection, caring, equity and collective giving.

Sharon, a 2023 recipient of the CBC Black Changemaker Award, has also been recognized for her impactful leadership as a clinician within her healthcare institution for over thirteen years. With the collaboration of Mark, Sharon plans to leverage their leadership capacity, innovative practice, and compassion to establish ACPI as a model of empathy, understanding, and equity across Canada and abroad.