Inspiring others through personal giving

When Darryl and Cassandra White introduced their Gift Match* for new Leadership donor gifts, timing was a key factor.??

“The need right now is clear and dire,” says Darryl, Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group, 2022 Community Campaign Cabinet Chair, and the Co-Chair of the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) Leadership Table—an integral part of United Way’s neighbourhood work. “Inflation, compounded by the lingering effects of the pandemic, has widened the fairness gap in our society. The rising costs of basics like groceries, gas and housing is threatening our most vulnerable communities across the GTA hard hit by the pandemic,” he says.?

“The problem isn’t just that the need is growing,” echoes Cassandra. “It’s also that capacity at many United Way-funded organizations has shrunk due to funding shortfalls, overextending staff and volunteers.” The couple understands that organizations supported, funded, and often convened by United Way make a tangible difference in people’s lives, and recognize the need is only growing. They are passionate supporters for this reason.?

“I’ve seen the impact firsthand: United Way is a highly effective channel for reaching directly into communities and supporting the most impactful local charities and not-for-profit organizations,” Darryl says. “They combine the real experiences they have at the frontlines with meticulously gathered data to find the best ways to provide assistance. They are the right partners to translate our efforts into the right solutions.”?

But the Whites’ support for United Way isn’t new. In fact, they’ve been involved with United Way for nearly 30 years—long before the pandemic, record inflation, and the current cost-of-living crisis. They first became involved with the organization in 1995 thanks to the BMO Employee Giving campaign and have continued to increase their involvement every year since. Darryl has played important roles on both United Way Greater Toronto’s Major Individual Giving Cabinet and Community Campaign Cabinet, as well as having co-chaired Centraide of Greater Montreal’s 2021 Campaign. As a couple, he and Cassandra have donated more than $1 million to United Way and have raised much more through their leadership as community builders.??

“Personal giving and building a network of fellow givers are a part of putting our purpose into action,” says Darryl. “We know that matching helps encourage others to give. As Chair of last year’s United Way Community Campaign, it’s one of the ways Cassandra and I wanted to make a difference. As leaders in our community, we need to reach beyond and help in the ways in which we are best equipped.”?

* The Darryl and Cassandra White Gift Match matched new Leadership-level donations between $1,200 and $9,999 from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15, 2022, up to a total of $1 million.?