About 130 Ivey MBA students stepped outside the classroom for Social Impact Day 2026, volunteering at seven London-area sites on activities focused on food security, youth services, environmental initiatives, and community well-being. The annual Ivey MBA Association-led event allowed students to contribute to the community while learning more about the city they now call home.
At one London youth shelter, Ivey MBA students spent Social Impact Day hauling broken bicycles, weeds, and debris out of an overgrown storage area so it could be used again.
The project was one of several hands-on initiatives that gave about 130 Ivey MBA students the opportunity to make an impact at seven sites across London and the surrounding area during Social Impact Day. Organized by the Ivey MBA Association, the annual event engaged students with community organizations including the London Food Bank, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, ReForest London, Growing Chefs! Ontario Sustainable Garden, SARI Therapeutic Riding, and two Thames River cleanup projects.
Watch the video above for a closer look at Ivey students in action during Social Impact Day
Taylor Lee, MBA ’27 candidate and Vice-President External of the Ivey MBA Association, said the event gave students a chance to contribute to the local community while learning more about London beyond campus.
“We’re all incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be at Ivey, and it’s really important to us to be part of the Ivey culture, which hinges on giving back to the local community and giving back to those in need, and particularly carrying that forward as we go into business,” Lee said.
Connecting with the community
At the London Food Bank, students sorted donations, completed quality checks, and packed items for distribution while learning more about the organization’s work.
For Nathalie Kent, an MBA ’27 candidate and one of the event's organizers, the experience offered a different way of getting to know the city.
“A lot of people come from different places and have gotten to know London in many ways, and this is a deeper way of knowing the city,” Kent said. “We also do a lot of learning about community and leadership in our program, and it’s nice to put that into practice and really see what it means in principle.”
A hands-on project at Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Fellow MBA ’27 candidate Madison Brown helped organize the volunteer group at one of Youth Opportunities Unlimited’s youth shelters. Brown first connected with the organization during an undergraduate capstone project at Western University, making the chance to return especially meaningful.
Students spent the day clearing a bike storage area, removing garbage, broken bicycles, weeds, and other hazards so the space could be used again. They also toured the facility and learned more about how Youth Opportunities Unlimited supports young people through housing, meals, employment support, and education opportunities.
“It was really nice because they do a lot of work trying to get youth employed and getting to college and university,” Brown said. “The first step is having a safe place to stay and a locked door, and then getting them free meals a day. Once that’s taken care of and they feel more steady, they’ve moved quite a few people on to college. It’s really great to see, and just very inspiring.”
By the end of the day, Brown said, the difference in the outdoor area was easy to see.
“There was this gorgeous bike rack that hadn’t been used because there was a bunch of stuff on it,” she said. “Just the fact that this space is now going to be used – if we didn’t go, it might have stayed like that for however much longer. Knowing that we had some small impact is a great feeling.”
A different view of the city
Along the Thames River, Sahana Kapur, MBA ’27 candidate, helped with cleanup efforts and said the experience was a reminder to slow down and pay more attention to the environment around her.
“When you are in school, you’re always in it, and you don’t actually get to appreciate the environment that you live in,” Kapur said. “So I think this is time to kind of reconnect with nature, with the community, and to get away from being bogged down by school all the time.”
Brown said one of the lasting impressions from the day was seeing how much the staff at Youth Opportunities Unlimited cared about their work.
“I was just blown away by everyone who worked there and how much they care about what they do,” she said. “It gives me a sense that I’d love to go to work every day where I feel that much passion for what I’m doing, and knowing I’m really making an impact on people.”
Ivey MBA experience: learning beyond the classroom
What is the Ivey MBA experience like?
The Ivey MBA combines case-based learning, teamwork, leadership development, and opportunities for students to engage with organizations and communities beyond the classroom.
How do Ivey MBA students develop leadership skills?
Through the Ivey Case-Method Learning approach, team-based projects, student leadership opportunities, and experiences such as Social Impact Day, students apply their learning to real-world challenges.
How do Ivey MBA students connect with the London community?
Students participate in activities that bring them beyond campus, including volunteer initiatives, community partnerships, and experiential learning opportunities.
What is Social Impact Day?
Social Impact Day is an annual Ivey MBA Association-led volunteer initiative that brings students together to support local organizations across London and the surrounding area.
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