Maili Wong to Chair Charitable Events Supporting Adults with Down Syndrome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Burnaby, BC, Feb 5, 2024 — Maili Wong, Senior Wealth Advisor & Senior Portfolio Manager at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc., recently named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, has a new title to add to her portfolio: National Chair of Up the Down Market.

a white woman with Down syndrome with long brown hair, glasses, and gray sweater stand in front of Asian business woman

Up the Down Market is an annual series of fundraising dinners held in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto in support of the Burnaby-based Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. Over the past three decades, Up the Down Market has raised over $8,000,000 for essential programs and services for people with Down syndrome.

Up the Down Market centres around a unique simulated stock trading game that attracts Canada’s sharpest financial minds to compete to see who can withstand the ups and downs of the fictional market and emerge on top.

Wong, whose first involvement with the event came 25 years ago as a student volunteer representing The University of British Columbia Portfolio Management Foundation, now associated with the Sauder School of Business, subsequently served for years as the co-Chair of the Vancouver dinner before taking on the national leadership role for 2024.

“What’s special about Up the Down Market is that it brings together people from the financial industry who may be competitors in business, but share a common desire to support the people with Down syndrome who become their best selves through the programs of the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation,” says Wong.

“It’s such a fun event,” she explains. “There are always some big surprises in the game. You can earn some bragging rights if you get to the top of the leaderboard, and you can also chuckle at yourself when you drop to the bottom in the next round. And at the end of the day, the real winners are the people with Down syndrome who benefit.”

Among numerous accolades, Wong’s uncommon wealth management style has garnered her a position on Business in Vancouver’s “Top Forty Under 40” list. Her work is recognized in media, including a cover story for MoneySense magazine, and stories in Forbes Magazine, The Globe and Mail, and BC Business Magazine. She’s also featured in the commemorative book Canada 150 Women, highlighting 150 of the country’s most influential female leaders. Most recently, she was named one of BC’s Most Influential Women by BC Business.

Up the Down Market takes place on Sept. 19 in Vancouver, Oct. 10 in Calgary, and Oct. 30 in Toronto. Up the Down Market is presented by The Answer Company and benefits the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation. DSRF provides comprehensive support, rich social connections, and the best resources available to the Down syndrome community so each person can thrive. For more information, visit DSRF.org/UDMD.