Suzanne A. Rogers

Suzanne Angelique Rogers (née Kolev) is a Canadian philanthropist who combines her love of fashion with her commitment to children’s charities, both domestically and abroad.

Early life and family

Rogers was born in Elliot Lake – a small town in northeast Ontario – where her parents, Suzanna and Miklos, had emigrated from Budapest, Hungary, in 1968. The family later moved to London, Ontario.

Rogers attended grade school in London, but she completed her secondary education at the Salzburg International Preparatory School in Austria (the boarding and day school was later renamed The American International School). She returned to London to attend the University of Western Ontario, where she graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Personal life

Rogers met Edward Rogers III, now deputy chairman of Rogers Communications Inc. and the chair of the Rogers Control Trust, in Toronto, when they were both teenagers. In lieu of wedding presents when they married in 2006, the couple asked for donations to Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds affordable housing and promotes home ownership with the aim of breaking the cycle of poverty. With the donations from Suzanne and Edward’s wedding guests, Habitat built two houses for families in need.

The couple has welcomed three children: Chloe, Edward IV and Jack.

Charity work and fashion industry involvement

Rogers has always had an interest in fashion. As a young girl at school in Austria, she recalls taking the train to Paris, Vienna or Munich, to stay ahead of current trends in the industry.^[1] She has combined that love of fashion with a passion for giving back with her fundraiser series, Suzanne Rogers Presents (SRP). For each event, Rogers partners with a notable designer, which have included Oscar de la Renta,^[2][3] Marchesa^[4][5][6] and Zac Posen,^[7][8] with other celebrity couturiers in attendance. These events have raised 2.5 million dollars for children’s charities to date. Rogers also funds the $25,000 Suzanne Rogers Award for Most Promising New Label at the Toronto Fashion Incubator’s annual gala, the largest individual cash prize donation within the Canadian fashion industry.^[9]

In October 2016, Toronto's Ryerson University announced the launch of the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute, cited by the university as, "a dynamic fellowship program designed and dedicated to educate, support, promote and advocate for new Canadian talent in fashion craftsmanship and design." Providing master classes and exclusive mentorship opportunities to bridge the transition from fashion education to practice, the program is made possible through a $1-million gift from The Edward and Suzanne Rogers Foundation to Ryerson's Faculty of Communication and Design.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

In addition to SRP, Rogers is also involved with Boost Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention,^[15] an organization offering support services to families who experience abuse or violence, as well as prevention programs with the mission of reducing vulnerability in children. Rogers serves as honorary chair of The Butterfly Ball,^[16][17] the charity’s annual fundraiser, and was the first private donor for Boost’s Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, which opened in 2013.

Rogers is Honorary Chair of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Gala; a committee member of the annual fundraising event Scrubs in the City, benefitting the Hospital for Sick Children; an honorary chair of Le Grand Bal, benefitting Covenant House and in the past Oolagen Youth Mental Health; and Chair of Covenant House anti-trafficking campaign “Just Like a Girl You Know.”^[18][19]

Beyond her philanthropic ties to the fashion industry, Rogers is the chair of the editorial board of Canadian Fabric, a national non-profit magazine focused on the cultural fabric of Canada, and serves on the judging panel for the annual Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards.^[20]

Media

Rogers regularly attends runway shows in Paris, London, New York and Toronto. She was featured along with her daughter in the 2013 Flare’s Icons issue, showcasing the 50 most stylish Canadians of all time, as well as Hello! Canada's 2014 list of Canada's Best Dressed.^[21]

She also has a regular column in S/ Style & Fashion, a quarterly luxury lifestyle magazine in Canada.

References