VANCOUVER, BC – The Whitecaps FC Foundation – the official philanthropic arm of Vancouver Whitecaps FC – announced on Monday the members of the board of directors.
“We are very excited to welcome our board of directors,” said Jennifer Scott, chair of the Whitecaps FC Foundation. “Each member brings diverse perspectives and a love for our community and the sport of soccer. We are honoured to have their expertise on our team, and we are looking forward to what we can accomplish together.”
Through the passion of our fans and the unifying power of soccer, the Whitecaps FC Foundation aims to uplift our communities, empower youth, and protect the lands on which we play. The mission of the foundation is to drive impact on and off the pitch by championing access to soccer and environmental sustainability.
Aaron Bruce
Aaron Bruce is a lawyer/principal at Aaron Bruce Law Corp. He has been providing legal and strategic advice to Indigenous Nations since 2004. A member of the Squamish Nation, Bruce was driven to become a lawyer to support Indigenous communities in resolving land, natural resource and jurisdictional issues with federal and provincial governments and industry.
Bruce has a deep love for soccer and remains connected to the game by coaching his son’s teams and being a ’Caps season ticket member.
Manav Deol
As the chief administration officer & general counsel, Manav Deol is a member of Vancouver WhitecapsFC’s executive team with oversight of the club’s legal, human resources, information technology, and facility operations departments.
Deol’s career in professional sports spans a decade and prior to joining Whitecaps FC,he managed hockey operations at an NHL player agency, while representing and advising professional hockey players.
As a soccer player who played at the provincial, university, and youth national levels, Deol is deeply passionate about increasing access to grassroot sport for marginalized groups and he believes that sport can help build and diversify communities.
Taunya Geelhoed
Taunya Geelhoed is the chief operations officer for the FWC26 Host Committee. Prior to this, Geelhoed played a crucial role within Sport Hosting Vancouver at the City of Vancouver. Her efforts have helped elevate Vancouver's status as a top-tier global host city.
As a former NCAA Division I soccer player for the University of Louisiana, her passion for the sport laid the foundation for her career. When away from the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and being a mom to her four-year-old son, Parker.
Jennifer Scott
As the vice president, community & social impact at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Jennifer Scott is responsible for leading the overall strategic direction of the club’s community initiatives.
Scott is passionate about leveraging the power of sport to build leaders and uplift communities. Throughout her career in professional and amateur sport, she has witnessed the capacity of sport to drive positive social impact.
Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Scott was the director of Sport Burnaby, where she built partnerships with governments, tourism partners, and sport organizations to bring notable events to Burnaby, BC, in driving positive economic, sport, and social impact.
Rizwan Somji
Rizwan, known as "Riz" among his peers, has served as the head of technology, chief operating officer, and chief executive officer at Cymax Group Technologies – an ecommerce, logistics and technology company.
As a dedicated philanthropist, Somji is deeply committed to making a positive impact on his community. A lifelong advocate for the power of sport in bringing people together, Somji has spent countless hours coaching youth and men’s soccer teams as a volunteer coach and/or assistant. He takes immense pride in seeing young immigrants integrate into their new communities through the common language of sports and is dedicated to creating opportunities for these individuals to thrive.
For more information on the Whitecaps FC Foundation, visit wfcfoundation.com.
