Moez Kassam - Moez Kassam and Marissa Kassam Foundation

Moez Kassam is a hedge fund manager, venture capitalist and entrepreneur. As co-founder and Chief Investment Officer of Anson Funds, he presides over $1.5 billion in assets with exceptional results, regularly earning him a spot among the globe’s top performers by both Bloomberg and Barron’s magazines. Based on annualized returns from 2018 to 2020, Anson ranked among the Top 10 Hedge Funds by Barclay Managed Funds.

Moez is also an active philanthropist. Moez sits on the advisory boards of the Toronto Library Foundation, the Canadian Olympic Foundation, Ryerson University’s Technology Innovation Circle, and the Immigrant Access Fund.

He and his wife founded the Moez & Marissa Kassam Foundation, which supports important organizations including Doctors Without Borders, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success and Camp Oochigeas, a summer camp creating memorable experiences for children dealing with cancer. The mission of the foundation is to improve the health and vibrancy of vulnerable communities.

When the Moez & Marissa Kassam Foundation donated to the Michael Garron Hospital, the money was used to create a modern food court, improving the eating options for frontline healthcare workers, medical staff and underserved patients. The hospital named it the Moez and Marissa Kassam Food Court.

Moez has a profound passion for the culinary arts. In his free time, he volunteers as a sitting judge for Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants and plans the future of dining as a co-creator of Assembly Chef’s Hall, one of Toronto’s best-known food halls. Moez is also the Chief Food Officer for the famous Toronto dining club Dîner en Blanc.

An active member of the Young Presidents Organization’s Maple Leaf Chapter, Moez was honored in 2018 to be placed among Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.

Moez holds an MBA from London Business School and a BA from Western University. He resides in Toronto, Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What motivated you and Marissa to create the Moez Kassam and Marissa Kassam Foundation?

Moez Kassam: Toronto is very vibrant and diverse city which is one of the reasons why my wife and I love Toronto. However, there is still a lot of progress to be made regarding inequality and exclusion which is why we started the Foundation. The Foundation aims to level the playing field by making an impact through five key areas: Food and Shelter, Healthcare, Youth Development, Immigration, and the Arts.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your work with the Canadian Olympic Foundation?

Moez Kassam: Absolutely! In June 2020, I was honoured to join the board of directors for the Canadian Olympic Committee foundation. I’ve always loved the Olympics ever since I was young, so this feels like a great partnership. Supporting athletes is something that is so universal and breaks all barriers – it’s one of those few things that most of us can agree on!
Q: Is that why you chose to donate $1 million to the Canadian Olympic Foundation?
Q: The Moez Kassam and Marissa Kassam Foundation has also made a $1 million donation to Michael Garron Hospital for the creation of a new food court. What led to that decision?

Moez Kassam: I love food and cooking, and I am informally known as a “foodie” in some circles. Most people minimize the impact of food but in my opinion, healthy and delicious food can improve life in more profound ways than we usually acknowledge

On top of creating a new food court, the gift will also support the creation of a grassroots initiatives fund that will be focused on expanding the hospital’s community programs and inclusive and accessible healthcare. My wife and I are particularly passionate about this initiative, not only because it helps serve diverse and vulnerable populations, but because it will serve frontline healthcare workers. During COVID-19, healthcare workers have often put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us alive and we wanted to support them, and this seemed like the best way to get involved
Q: Where do you see the foundation going from here?

Moez Kassam: The Moez and Marissa Kassam Foundation will continue to do everything possible to make life better for vulnerable people in Toronto. The five-pillar approach has worked well, but we’re always looking for new organizations that are worth supporting. As for specifics, I think it’s likely that housing will continue to grow as an issue that needs to be addressed in the Greater Toronto Area.
Q: What would you say to someone that wants to get more involved in charity work or philanthropy, but isn’t sure where to start?

Moez Kassam: I would tell them that the first step is to make a choice. It doesn’t matter what it is, but just get started. Once you have volunteered or donated to one organization, you understand that giving is its own reward. You also need to ask yourself what you feel passionate about and go from there. I knew that I wanted to make healthy meals part of our charitable work because I love food — the way it nourishes us and brings people together for a shared purpose. Other than that, I’d say look for ways to improve your community, wherever you live.