Are you a philanthropist? A generous giver?

               When you walk past a street busker, do you toss a loonie or a toonie in their case?

               Have you ever paid it forward in the line at Tim Horton’s?

               Most of us would qualify as generous givers to others in that respect. We give in times of need and in small amounts. But do we live generously, even in death? Are we truly generous in life?

               Owen Sound has been the recipient of great philanthropy over the years. Harrison Park was a gift to the city, many years ago. Central Westside United Church was built through the generous philanthropy of the Massey family of farm implement fame and American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. The Owen Sound and North Grey Union library building was also built through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie. The list goes on and on.

               Two recent examples of philanthropy are also worth noting. One was in Vancouver and the other right here in Owen Sound.

               At the very same time that the United Church of Canada was cutting $5 million dollars from its national budget and laying off 28 staff, a remarkable gift of philanthropy was announced in Vancouver. The estate of Judith Jardine has become the largest single philanthropic gift to the community in the history of the province.

               Very little is known of Judith Jardine. She never married and had no children. She was a university graduate and had a passionate interest in the arts and teaching, although there is no record of her ever teaching. To anyone’s knowledge, she had no membership or attended at any church. Her wealth came from her grandfather, who was a director of Pacific Great Eastern Railways, which later became BC Rail. Her mother was a graduate of the Law School of the University of New Brunswick and was one of the first women in Canada to become a lawyer. The family owned a large estate in Vancouver, which Judith inherited from her aunt very late in life. Only three pictures of her are known to exist.

               When Judith Jardine’s estate was read, following her death in 2006, the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Vancouver School of Theology and the Vancouver Foundation (the community foundation for Vancouver) were astonished to be named as beneficiaries. They received $6.4 million, $50,000 and $34 million respectively. The gift of Judith Jardine to the Vancouver Foundation, however, was to be split in two; one half to a fund named in memory of her father, W.E. Jardine, and the other half to go to the work of BC Conference of the United Church of Canada. The principal of the fund will be kept intact, generating $1.4 million dollars annually, divided equally, forever.

               The Vancouver Foundation will use their share to support vital programs in Vancouver, such as expanding its Neighbourhood Small Grants program and strengthening its efforts to reduce youth homelessness. BC Conference will use their share for church leadership development and support of campus (university) ministries in the coming year. There are no restrictions on the use of the Jardine bequest.

               Closer to home, last week the Community Foundation of Grey Bruce announced that the estate of the late Eva Leflar had given them a bequest of $6 million, doubling the amount the Foundation has for investment. This bequest will allow the Foundation to make many more annual gifts to the community to enrich all our lives.

               The story of Eva Leflar is well known. She always had a passion for the arts and children, and her bequest reflects that passion. Her gift will go on giving for generations to come.

               Are you a philanthropist? Perhaps not on the scale of Judith Jardine or Eva Leflar, but have you ever considered leaving something in your will for the Tom Thompson Art Gallery, your church, a charity, service club or the Community Foundation? It just takes a little forethought and some planning. Be a generous giver; a philanthropist; and we all win. 

Rev. David Shearman is the minister of Central Westside United Church, Owen Sound and the host of Faithworks on Rogers TV - Grey County, Cable 53.