It’s been a busy month in Greater Victoria’s philanthropy circles!
November is Philanthropy Month, and has included an array of celebrations, beginning with Random Act of Kindness Day Nov. 2 and continuing right through Giving Tuesday, Nov. 27.
In between were the Victoria National Philanthropy Day Awards, celebrating local philanthropists of all ages. Among those, Andrew Beckerman, who has a fund with the Victoria Foundation among his other endeavours, was honoured with the Generosity of Spirit Award.
Living by the motto “do for others as you would have them do for you,” Beckerman truly exemplifies the spirit of Philanthropy Month, notes the Foundation’s CEO Sandra Richardson.
Not only has Beckerman donated more than $1.5 million to various charities, but many of those donations come with the condition that they be matched, motivating others and doubling the impact. Showing that leadership starts by example, he also provided 150 Agents of Change Youth Session participants with CanadaHelps cards to help inspire the next generation of giving leaders.
More philanthropy to come!
This week, watch for the release of a study from the University of Victoria and the Victoria Foundation, which explores the impact of non-profit organizations on the region.
What they found might be surprising: Not only is there significant social impact from what is one of the city’s largest sectors, but there’s also a significant economic impact.
“The report is meant to recognize non-profits and their impact on the region, which in turn may encourage the public’s continued support,” Richardson says.
Giving Tuesday has a similar goal.
Philanthropy Month continues with this week’s Giving Tuesday, a gentle reminder of the importance of giving back, following the kick-off to seasonal shopping. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday provide opportunities to save money as we shop for the holidays, Giving Tuesday invites us to pay those savings forward to the causes that matter most to us.
“It’s really a chance to think about the spirit of the season and the impact we can have by giving back to our community,” Richardson says, pointing to the diversity of charitable organizations. Arts, sports, health care … they’re all part of the non-profit community.
“Pick your favourite organizations and support them. And it’s not only about money,” Richardson adds. “If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but keep putting it off, take the time to fill out the forms and donate your time. It really is an opportunity to personalize your giving, in a way that’s meaningful to you.”
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Established in 1936, the Victoria Foundation is Canada’s second oldest community foundation and the sixth largest of nearly 200 nation-wide. Managing charitable gifts from donors whose generosity allows them to create permanent, income-earning funds, proceeds from these funds are distributed as grants for charitable or educational purposes. To date the Victoria Foundation has invested more than $200 million in people, projects and non-profit organizations strengthening communities in B.C. and throughout Canada.