Aunt Leah’s Donor: Karin King

If you have been involved with Aunt Leah’s over the last 12 years, then there is a good chance you have met Karin King. Karin was a board member for two years, our Human Resources Manager for about 8 years, and is currently our Fundraising Assistant and she helps us in a myriad of ways with events and donor relations. Karin supports Aunt Leah’s as a donor, a volunteer and is a champion for the organization, helping to spread awareness and bring new people into our community.

Karin supports Aunt Leah’s as a donor, a volunteer and by spreading awareness about our organization.

Karin recalls how she first came to know about Aunt Leah’s. Karin and her family regularly attended one of the Community Meals where Aunt Leah’s offered pre-employment training in restaurant service skills to youth at risk. As a board member, Karin found herself caught up in the passion of the other board members as they worked together on vital issues within the organization. “What drew me to Aunt Leah’s was the work they were doing with the youth. I just couldn’t imagine what it must be like for these foster youth who’ve had to move from home to home, being uprooted, and the teen moms. I also admired that everyone was really focused on the mandate.”

Karin is also a mother and her son Joel is now 26. “Most of my friends are parents and our children have benefited from growing up with a certain level of affluence, and I just feel that when we know there are poor people and kids on the street, how can you not want to help?”

Karin’s friends ask her why she hasn’t yet retired. “You know, I so believe in what Aunt Leah’s is doing and the people they are helping and it’s nice to be around that. Aunt Leah’s really does very unique work. I have a lot of admiration and respect for the work the Support Workers do. And everyone, really. I feel like I’m surrounded by very caring, professional people who all have different things to bring to the organization.”

Karin has been an amazing ambassador for Aunt Leah’s. She is such a delightful person who genuinely cares about people and enjoys socializing and meeting new people. And she loves fundraisers! “My biggest delight is going to one fundraiser and buying something at their event and then giving it to Aunt Leah’s. That way, I can support two organizations! I get a big charge out of that.” Karin giggles and admits it’s not just out of generosity that she goes to these events but also because she likes to promote Aunt Leah’s. “Everybody knows where I work. I take any chance I get to spread the word about Aunt Leah’s.”

Karin’s favorite event is the Lonely Hearts Club Band which is an annual benefit concert with local talent performing Beatles songs. “Who doesn’t like music?” she asks with a laugh. Karin invites her friends to take part in all kinds of fundraisers and campaigns at Aunt Leah’s but she especially enjoys bringing friends to this event. “I love to see my friends having fun and enjoying the music, but of course I want them to know the purpose behind it as well.”

About her own choice to support Aunt Leah’s financially, Karin says, “I get a lot of happiness from that. One of my greatest pleasures would be to be able to start my own foundation. How wonderful would that be?”

Karin has been such a great help to us in fundraising and her love of people and passion for helping youth and teen moms in need contribute to her ability to reach out to our supporters. “I think most people are giving. When I’m talking to people about an event, it sparks their creativity to think of the different ways they can help, whether it’s with donations or their time or expertise.”

One of Karin’s new projects is helping to promote the concept of “Third Party” Fundraisers – where individuals or groups host their own events and donate the proceeds to Aunt Leah’s. Karin has come up with a lot of creative ideas for different kinds of fundraisers people can do with their friends and family or co-workers. If you are interested in hosting an event, or supporting one of Aunt Leah’s events, give Karin a call. You’ll be glad you did!

Jim and Anne McCullum have been involved with Aunt Leah’s almost since our founding in 1988. They have been monthly donors since 2001. Anne finds this a very useful way to donate, “because once you get things organized the right way, it just happens and it seems to me you can give more money at the end of the year than if you were sitting down to write a cheque just one time.”

Jim and Anne McCullum have been involved with Aunt Leah’s almost since our founding in 1988.

“Aunt Leah’s is an organization that we admire and want to be part of.” says Jim. Anne adds, “When we first encountered Aunt Leah’s, everything about it seemed to be so thoughtfully and inclusively arranged. The core values are beautifully put and real. They’re not just words on paper. It’s been my experience that that’s how the staff behaves towards the young people and also towards the volunteers and people who come to the fundraisers.”

Jim and Anne have volunteered at our annual Golf Tournament, the Christmas Tree Lots, and Jim also helps in the office from time to time. Jim says, “After I retired, I decided that I needed to do something for somebody else.” Anne describes the Tree Lots, “The volunteers are thoughtfully cared about. Aunt Leah’s makes the Tree Lots warm and comfortable and there are snacks to eat and encouraging words for us. It’s really remarkable.”

This summer, Jim became a member of our Board of Directors. “I’m so committed to the organization I wanted to be able to support it I whatever way I could with whatever skills or resources that I had so that’s why I said yes.”

Anne feels it’s important for people to know that besides giving money, there are many ways to support organizations like Aunt Leah’s. During the Christmas season, people are hosting parties where donations are collected rather than gifts exchanged. Jim and Anne recently made a contribution to Aunt Leah’s in honour of friends that were getting married. Even their grandchildren have been given money and were asked to choose a charity to donate to. “Their godparents gave them the money and they were really excited about doing the research and it involved other member of the family as well.” Jim says, “I would encourage people to do that. It’s good to be able to support Aunt Leah’s. It’s a privilege to be able to do that and every little bit helps.” He adds with a chuckle, “And big bits help more!”

Anne and Jim told us that they have decided to include a legacy gift for us in their will. Jim explained, “We’ve had a will for many years and in the last year have updated our will. What we decided was to take a percentage of the value of our estate for our children, and then 20% of our estate will be divided between four charities. Aunt Leah’s is very important to us when we are planning our contributions.” But they are committed to other organizations as well. Jim says, “We would rather donate more money to a few than just a little to many.” Anne adds, “We talked to our children so that they understood what we had in mind. We’re not wealthy people so we’re not talking about a lot of money but this was a way that we could make a gift and hoped it would be useful.”

I asked Jim and Anne what this decision means to them. “I think what it does for us is to support us in our commitment to reach out beyond ourselves which we believe is very important,” said Jim. Anne answered, “It gives Aunt Leah’s some support and a reminder that their work and way of working is supported an appreciated.”

I asked them if they had any advice for people who are considering making a gift in their will. “Try it, you’ll like it!” Jim says with a laugh.

Aunt Leah’s Donors: David & Emily McCullum of “Digitally Hip”

David McCullum first heard about Aunt Leah’s through his children, and today his company, Digitally Hip, is a corporate donor to the organization. Digitally Hip provides technology support services to Aunt Leah’s, Aunt Leah’s pays for these services, and then Digitally Hip gives Aunt Leah’s a donation for the equivalent amount.

Aunt Leah's Donors David & Emily McCullum

David McCullum’s parents, Jim & Anne McCullum, are long time supporters of the organization. One Christmas Anne and Jim decided to give their grandchildren (David’s kids) a gift of some money that they could donate to any organization they chose. Both Benjamin, who is now almost 12, and Eliza, who is now almost eight, chose to support Aunt Leah’s. “One of the things that struck us is that no one expects their kids to need an organization like Aunt Leah’s,” says David McCullum. “It is too bad that Aunt Leah’s has to exist, but great that it does.” This type of financial support is part of the Digitally Hip “Friends of the Community Program”, where clients are referred through the community or through friends or family. “We treat these clients just like any other clients, with the same timeliness and quality of service,” says David McCullum. David and his wife and Digitally Hip founder, Emily McCullum, choose to donate this way because “if we can help out we should,” David says. “We choose the organizations that we get involved with very carefully.”

Digitally Hip staff member, Chris Austen, comes out to Aunt Leah’s regularly to provide technical support. “With all of our clients, we try to have the same person go out each time,” says David McCullum. “We pride ourselves on our communications, so when there is a good fit we try to stick with that person.” Digitally Hip is a collection of computer experts who specialize in information technology management for PCs, from consulting on industry standard hardware and software to building networks to meeting specialized needs.

by Tracy Sherlock

Lois Walker is a long-time supporter of Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society. Aunt Leah’s Society values that support very much, and wanted to ask Lois the reasons that she has continued to donate to Aunt Leah’s so consistently over the years.

Lois Walker is a long-time supporter of Aunt Leah's

“I’ve been watching Aunt Leah’s for a long time,” she says. “I have always appreciated the creativity, the spirit that says we can find our way through difficult things.”

“I enjoy all of the ideas that germinate-from the mobile coffee carts, to the tree lot to the art studio or the drama program.” Lois is a Marriage and Family Therapist with an office in St. Augustine’s Church. From this office she saw the beginnings of the Aunt Leah’s Restaurant Training and Community Meal program, as well as the drama program that was held in the church.

She remembers the growth of the community meal and how it contributed to the community as a whole. “A wonderful mix of strength and frailty,” is how she remembers the atmosphere of the meals. “I appreciated the hospitality and the effort to make this a welcoming environment to people.”

“Aunt Leah’s is the best of non-profit. They are both entrepreneurial and they experience all of the avenues and resources to stay viable,” she says.

In her work, Lois sees a range of people including those who are really struggling to those who are just trying to see their way through a marriage or how to raise a child. Her work allows her to see the struggle that many vulnerable youth have within their families.

“I have also appreciated the kind of respect Aunt Leah’s has for people with pretty rough stories who work right alongside the others,” Lois says. “Everybody has something to contribute.”

“What I find remarkable about Aunt Leah’s is the leadership,” she says. “Part of what I think has set Aunt Leah’s apart is a very clear vision and a very committed group of people who have supported that vision.

They bring such a solid commitment to that, and their children and their spouses are also bringing that vision.” “There’s a lot of laughter in this organization,” she remembers. “I think that is a sign of a healthy organization, and that is not to say there haven’t been a lot of challenges. You are working with the most impoverished people and it can be very hard to keep hope and perspective.”

“That’s why I support Aunt Leah’s-it’s tangible, I know these people, the work they do and the good that has come out of it,” she says. “Aunt Leah’s stays in excellent contact with the community and that keeps me in a personal relationship with these folks.”

By Tracy Sherlock

Jocelyn and Walter Hill have been actively involved with Aunt Leah’s Society for several years, both personally and through their children. The Hill family originally met Gale and Paul Stewart wehn Paul coached Nancy, the Hill’s daughter, in soccer before the Aunt Leah’s Society was established.

Jocelyn and Walter Hill have been actively involved with Aunt Leah's Society for several years.

A few years later, it was Nancy who brought the family into the Aunt Leah’s community in a more formal way. She was involved in a car accident that resulted in a large settlement, of which she thought it would be a good idea to donate a portion to charity. When she approached her mom about who to donate the money to, the two decided together on Aunt Leah’s.

“It’s easy to get involved once Gale Stewart gets a hold of you,” says Jocelyn. And soon after the donation was made, the Hill family was volunteering at Aunt Leah’s Tree Lot and the Aunt Leah’s Gallery.

Eventually Nancy became chairperson of the Board of Directors. She moved to Paris last year, and replaced herself on the board with her brother, Graham. Two years later, Graham is now the chairperson, having taken over following Todd Walter and Harry Ng. The Hill’s other child, Patrick, also volunteers for the society, putting time in at the Tree Lot every Christmas.

“We’ve been doing the Tree Lot since it started,” says Walter. When asked what motivates them to volunteer, he continues, “It’s donating right to the source that helps people. The need is right here in the community.”

“The people at Aunt Leah’s are so wonderful,” says Jocelyn. “Everybody, starting right with Gale and her family, are such genuine, caring people.” Jocelyn was an active volunteer at the Aunt Leah’s Gallery on Marine Drive when it was in operation. She enjoyed the contact with the young people as well as seeing the local creations. She also worked with training young people in the coffee cart and helped to look after the garden at the Gallery.

On the subject of the Aunt Leah’s Society’s work with teen mothers, Jocelyn says, “These girls are probably vulnerable and open to assistance because now they’ve got the responsibility of their baby.” She recognizes that “intervention at that early stage in a baby’s life could break the cycle of poverty.”

“Somebody cares about these girls – it might be for the first time. When you’ve got a baby,if somebody cares, I think it must touch them. If anytime they are going to change, that would be it,” says Jocelyn.

Walter adds that the relevance of programs like the Restaurant Training Program is another way that Aunt Leah’s serves the community. “The Restaurant Training Program gives young people an opportunity to get into the working community.” he says. “You can see the results right in your own neighbourhood.”

Written by Tracy Sherlock