Toronto police officer's mother launches Marc Pinizzotto Foundation for youth sports and arts

Linda Pinizzotto has launched the Marc Pinizzotto Foundation to turn her son's death into a resource for young people. Const. Marc Pinizzotto, 43, a husband and father of two, was killed on June 11 after being shot during a search warrant in the Black Creek and Trethewey Drive area. A 19-year-old man, Nicholas Bennett, has been charged with first-degree murder.

The foundation will organize sports and arts programs, scholarships, bursaries, and mentorship initiatives aimed at reducing youth screen time and building safe communities — values her son embodied throughout his career in the Toronto Police Service.

"We can't bring Marc back. It's impossible. But what we can do is we can understand his legacy and how it was so important for him to have safe communities. He gave his life for that," Linda Pinizzotto said this week.

Marc Pinizzotto grew up playing hockey and piano alongside his two brothers. As a federal non-profit, the foundation will work with police, politicians, and community members on advocacy and public awareness. The foundation plans to "organize and support community outreach initiatives, sports and arts programs, fundraising activities, educational and mentorship programs" while encouraging academic achievement, leadership, community involvement and personal development.

Lindsay Pinizzotto emphasized the foundation's broader mission: addressing youth involvement in crime. She pointed to young people as young as 12, 14, and 16 being recruited into organized crime and used as guns-for-hire — a crisis she believes demands reform. The Toronto Police Association, representing over 8,700 police and civilian members, has been advocating for changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, specifically to allow some youths to be charged as adults. TPA President Clayton Campbell has joined public discussions about strengthening the act, noting that youth commit nearly one in four crimes this year.