All in the (Weston) Family: How Family

Values become Philanthropic Values

Kim Abell

At what age did you become aware of your family's commitment to

investing in charities, and how did that awareness come about?

Although my mother and father volunteered their time for various charities as I was growing up it probably wasn’t until I reached university-age that I really became aware of my family’s commitment to charity. I was encouraged to work for a summer for our family’s charitable foundation. In fact, my siblings, cousins and I were not invited to sit on the Board until we had spent a summer working for the foundation. I visited many of the charities the foundation was giving to. It gave me an opportunity to learn how charities use the funds they are given and an opportunity to form my own ideas about what I believed was making a difference in Canada.

 

Did your parents and extended family express passion for

certain causes? How did that affect you?

I think I have been lucky. Although our family is passionate about education and the environment, my generation has always been encouraged to recognize all the wonderful charities that exist across Canada. As trustees of the foundation we are each allocated a certain amount of money to give to charities of our choice. Every year we support organizations in every province. We cover every topic imaginable.

How are your family's values and priorities manifested in

your giving?

I was blessed with a wonderful Godmother who gave me a tremendous amount of her time as I was growing up. Because of this I realize the value of giving of oneself. Between us my husband and I volunteer for five charities. We believe that giving time is worth as much or more than giving money. However we also give money to a number of organizations.

You now have your own young family. What do you do

to carry on the family tradition of giving back?

This will be the 9th Christmas that we have adopted a family in need. Each year we pack up a Christmas hamper for a low-income Toronto family who is struggling to make ends meet. My children, ages 2,5 and 7 are now able to do the shopping by them selves. Each of them will take the name of a child from our adopted family and off we’ll go with the goal of making it the best Christmas that child has ever had.

What advice do you have for second- and third- generation

philanthropists?

Reach deep within yourself to find where your passions lie. Go in search of the charities whose mandates fulfill those passions. Be proactive-- you will get tremendous joy out of supporting the charities you truly believe will make a difference in the world. You will not feel the same happiness if you wait for charities to come to you, or if you support your neighbor’s favorite cause.