Making Philanthropy a
Donor
Profile
Donation Tip:
Family Tradition
Passing the Torch
People cite many reasons why
Glen and Debra Swire’s family philanthropy is inspired by role models and
they want to engage the next
mentors. Now they are seeing that way of life carried out in a fourth generation.
generation in philanthropy, such
“I had three major mentors,” says Glen. “My grandfather and father, who
as passing on family values, con-
gave to many charities throughout their corporate and personal lives, and
tinuing a family legacy, benefiting
Colonel Sanders, who gave away most of his own money, and who set up his
the community and discovering a
shared purpose.
Canadian operation so that profits were redistributed to local charities
through franchisees.”
If philanthropy is a topic you
would like to introduce to your
Glen’s family owned Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets throughout Hamilton.
family, and you’d like some ideas
In 2002, he sold his last two stores and Glen and Debra established the Swire
on how to get started, here
Family Fund, a donor-advised fund at HCF, which they felt could be adminis- are two resources to get the
tered more effectively than a private foundation. conversation going:
Beyond philanthropic mentors, the lifelong vol-
Giving Back
The Giving Family: Raising our
unteerism of their parents set an example which
Children to Help Others (Susan
went hand-in-hand with their philanthropy.
Part of Everyday
Crites Price): a thoughtful book
full of practical tips for engag-
Glen and Debra feel they never planned a
conversation with their kids about giving back;
Conversation
ing children in the value and
practice of giving.
instead, it was a part of everyday conversation.
Inspired Philanthropy: Your step-
“We always tried to make them conscious of how blessed we were to live in
by-step guide to creating a giving
this country and in Hamilton and that not everyone shared that same good
plan (Kim Klein): presents a frame-
fortune,” says Glen. “It was really just about who we are.”
work and useful tools for families
“My parents gave a lot of time and resources that they didn’t ‘advertise,’ ” agrees
and individuals to build a personal
daughter Julie Entwistle. “But it was always made clear to my brother and me
giving strategy.
how fortunate we were as a family, and our responsibility to give back.” HCF staff are always available to
“My dad is a real goal setter,” she says. “He talks to us about our own financial and
help you develop your family
philanthropy strategy. Some of
other plans. When he shares those things that have been important to him, giving
the ways we can assist are:
back a percentage of what you have is very much a part of the conversation.”
• Facilitating family discussions to
Two of Julie’s four daughters are already putting the family’s values into
discover common inspirations
practice. On their seventh birthdays, party guests were invited to bring a
for giving and designing a
donation instead of a gift. The girls selected the charities for their donation, personalized philanthropy plan
visited the organizations and saw, first-hand, the impact of a gift.
• Taking you on a site visit to
“I wanted them to understand that it’s more than mailing in a cheque,”
learn more about community
says Julie.
issues or programs
“Philanthropy is very much about how you’re raised, and that it’s not
• Hosting a family
just about money; it’s also about your time.
meeting at HCF to
My parents taught me both, and it has
explore developing
definitely shaped the person I am and
a family fund.
what I want my family to be.”
Please give Sheree
Meredith a call
Julie Entwistle and daughters,
at 905-523-5600
to talk more
Payton, Paige, Abby and Eve with
about how we
“Checkers” at the local SPCA,
can share our
where Abby donated the
knowledge of
money raised from her guests, philanthropy
in lieu of gifts, at her seventh
and the
birthday party.
community.
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LEGACY • Fall 2009 Newsletter • Hamilton Community Foundation
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