Rotenberg honored with International Horatio Alger Award

The award was presented in Toronto on November 12, 2025, by the Horatio Alger Association of Canada, a nonprofit educational charity named after 19th-century author Horatio Alger, whose “rags-to-riches” stories championed perseverance and hard work.

Since 2012, the association has awarded over $19 million in scholarships to more than 2,500 students from coast to coast. In addition to financial grants, the group provides students with financial aid counseling, internships, and mental health resources, as well as mentorship.

Raised in Thornhill, Ontario, Rotenberg was shaped by the resilience of her paternal grandparents, Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in Israel and Brazil before settling in Canada. Their journey instilled in her a deep appreciation for the transformative power of values passed through generations.

“My mother was a teacher, and my grandmother was a teacher, so education was always in my blood,” Rotenberg said. “Giving opportunities to deserving youth who’ve persevered in the face of challenges makes a huge difference, and I’m humbled to join the Horatio Alger Association in helping to shape tomorrow’s leaders.”

Apart from her professional achievements, Rotenberg is engaged in her community, serving as a board member and treasurer at Sinai Health (Toronto), a leader at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and a volunteer at her children’s school. Her efforts are consistent with Vanguard’s longstanding commitment to philanthropy and volunteerism.