20 Under 40: Allison DeBlaire

Meet Allison DeBlaire, 34, executive director at 519Pursuit and one of our 20 Under 40 Class of 2026 recipients

IN 2017, ALLISON DeBlaire turned a crockpot of chicken noodle soup into a mission, serving Londoners facing homelessness and sparking the creation of 519Pursuit, a volunteer-driven organization that supports individuals experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty through friendship-based, empathetic outreach. 519Pursuit focuses on immediate, personal connection, distributing meals, care packages, survival gear and more to those sleeping rough or unable to access shelters and services. Forming partnerships with organizations such as the London Food Bank, RBC Place London and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, she leads with tireless dedication — opening doors, creating opportunities and shining a light on those often overlooked.

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What is your biggest career achievement so far, or the thing that you’re most proud of?

I am most proud of the community that 519Pursuit has become in support of our friends in the community facing homelessness and extreme poverty. What started as a group of friends gathering to go and support individuals facing homelessness has become a support system that is working hard each and every day to elevate the challenges faced when navigating living rough, facing homelessness and extreme poverty. Another is The 519Pledge For Socks. What started as an idea to introduce ourselves to the local community has grown quickly over the past eight years, and more than 660,000 pairs of socks have been collected since 2018. A new pair of socks was once an item hard to come by in shelters and services, and since the launch of The 519Pledge For Socks we have been able to continuously stock up local services, shelters and outreach teams week after week.

What about your biggest business obstacle (and how you tackled it)?

Financial stability and operational challenges have been the biggest obstacles in recent years. Over the past few years our team has grown into a fully operational service, Monday to Friday, with seven staff members working in tandem with volunteers. Our focus is on being fiscally responsible and showing up every day.

What’s one lesson or experience from the past year you’re hoping to carry forward with you?

To breathe more — adding extra pressure does not mean it is creating better outcomes.

On a desert island, what’s the one gratuitous item you’d have to have?

Coffee maker.

What’s left for you to do, professionally or personally?

I hope to continue to be a student in life and find opportunities to do better for the community and my children. 519Pursuit has offered me countless opportunities to learn from others, whether that is through business or life in general. When I became a mother I felt like life had started all over again. It is my goal to continue to be better for myself and others each and every day. Interview by Kieran Delamont / Photos by Reid Lucier