By Pepper Parr
October 24th, 2016
BURLINGTON, ON
A Fable…
Some thought it was a difficult decision to make – others thought the decision shouldn’t have been made at all – but it was too late for that.
The event was going to take place and the best they could all do was duck.
They were all basically decent people who lived in a prosperous community close to an international city. Geography had blessed them all. The land to the north wasn’t mountainous but there were nice rises of land in one part of the city with a fresh water lake at the southern edge.
The local hospital was the biggest employer. The wealthiest people tended to do their business in a city less than an hour away.
The city had its share of service clubs; it had the marks of the early stages of a local culture.
It once had a rich rural, cash crop history that tended to get forgotten.
And it had a number of very successful people who would, when pressed, write large cheques that their accountants and tax advisors assured them came with good tax benefits.
It was a community that held several galas that raised funds for the usual causes: poverty, mental health and youth that were in conflict with society.
Its local political leadership was what it was – not sterling but not corrupt. From time to time they made expensive mistakes but for the most part the rate payers were a forgiving lot.
Significant wealth tends to work its way towards philanthropy – those who have more than they are ever going to spend get known for the practice of writing large cheques – with the attendant tax benefits.
Once one philanthropist has been named – the challenge is to find others. And if the practice is to name a philanthropist every year – it can become a challenge. Sometimes the committee that is tasked with finding that person gets it perfect – on other occasions – well it doesn’t work out all that well.
A name is put forward – the person certainly has the funds – now to get them to give it to you. The name is a prominent one. The process of making contact and then doing the ask goes well enough. The funds are agreed upon and the prominent person agrees to let his or her name stand.
And another philanthropist is locked down.
Then the news stories come to the surface. The chair of the organization says he didn’t know. Ohers knew but thought it was low key enough to slide by. And they all cross their fingers and hope nothing will be said.
The question that gets asked is – which is the more important: a set of social values or coming up with a prominent name and a successful fund raising event ?
It depends on how tightly you want to hold your nose.
Prominent people with colourful backgrounds or questionable business dealings get fondly remembered when there is a tombstone with their name on it. They become part of the folk lore of the community – and people who never even saw the person will tell you of the conversations they used to have with the now deceased.
It is when the behavior is recent, still ongoing, perhaps still before the courts, that it gets awkward. Who knew ask the members of the committee – and now that they do know – what do they do?
Duck and hope no one raises the awkward question? Or look for a way to suggest to the nominee that he or she might find a passable reason to have to decline. The cheque will still be in the mail – but the name won’t get used.
Is there a lesson learned?
Who in a society sets the social values? There was a time when there were churches on many street corners that were well attended and the clergy set the tone. Or there was a citizen of exceptional standing who was a truly decent person who put city before self.
They are out there – just hard to find one every year to name as the philanthropist.
Perhaps the definition of philanthropy should be broadened to include people who are not wealthy
This group chose to duck – unfortunate.
