Because all children need hope
Photographer: Rodrigo Moreno, 2009
Leadership donor Stuart English supports United Way because it makes his city a better place to live, not only for him and his son, but for the many children who don't have as many advantages.
When Stuart English moved to Toronto from Montréal to attend law school 19 years ago, he quickly fell in love with his adopted city. Since becoming a father a little over a year ago, that passion has deepened. "I take my son on walks to explore the city," says English. "We go everywhere—through the ravines, to the St. Lawrence market, the ROM and the AGO. Toronto has so much to offer, and I want to instill my love for our city in my son."
Stuart was alarmed by the disparity in our children's hopes. "Going to these [United Way] agencies and seeing how tough life is for some kids, I can't help but contrast their futures with my son's.
Stuart has come to see other sides of Toronto too, areas in which children face many more obstacles in life. Last year as Campaign Lead and Partner Leadership Co-chair of the United Way campaign at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP, he set out to learn more about United Way, to better convey the urgency of the campaign to his coworkers. He was alarmed by the disparity in our children's hopes. "Going to these agencies and seeing how tough life is for some kids, I can't help but contrast their futures with my son's. I know that his choices will be much like mine: it won't be a matter of whether he'll attend university, but which one. Meanwhile, university must seem totally unattainable for many of these kids. That's just not right."
So Stuart translates his concern into action on behalf of United Way, gently but firmly cajoling partners and junior lawyers to give generously to the annual campaign. He even put his pride on the line by singing his son's bedtime favourite "What a Wonderful World" for a United Way karaoke fundraiser, despite what he wryly acknowledges is "not a terrific singing voice." Stuart's efforts are paying off: in a particularly challenging fundraising year, he led the firm's 2008 campaign to a 16 percent increase overall.
Stuart makes a strong business case for United Way, outlining how effectively a donation to United Way leverages dollars, and how an economically thriving city requires good social health. He also likes to share an experience he had touring Dixon Hall, an agency helping kids in Regent Park. When a former client described how she was achieving a university education despite rather bleak odds, he says it gave him hope: "You might expect these kids to be unreachable," explains Stuart. "But here was this young woman who was so optimistic about her future, even returning to mentor other kids. I felt inspired."
