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The joy of giving emanated from the time of my childhood.
I was born to a very ordinary immigrant family of a working
father and a stay-at-home mother. At her eulogy, my mother
was called "the first social worker" because of
what she gave of herself to ease the plight of others. If
she knew of recent arrivals to our community who needed help,
she rushed to make sure they got a roof, clothing and food.
She worked very hard to raise funds for Mount Sinai Hospital,
Youth Aliyah and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric care. She
and two friends collected money to purchase mezuzahs for the
first floor of the Baycrest Centre when it was first established
on Bathurst Street. My father, even though he lost his job
during the Depression, gave as much as he could to JNF and
UJA Federation. When he passed away still owing a pledge to
UJA Federation, I made sure it was honoured.
I am a Life Member of Hadassah-WIZO, Baycrest Centre, Mount
Sinai Hospital and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada,
of which I am also a founder. My husband also gives —
a legacy from his family — and he donates to many Israeli
projects. We have been to Israel many times, sometimes staying
as long as two months, and we have a son living there. My
children and grandchildren also visit Israel often. We make
frequent donations to our favourite charities, as well as
to Jewish schools and other causes we deem worthy. On the
occasion of an anniversary, we started a fund at the Baycrest
Centre.
Though my husband is now confined to a wheelchair, we continue
to give and hope to do so for many more years. We have included
our favorite charities in our wills and hope that our children
and grandchildren will continue to on this path.
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