Meet one of our supporters:
John Gibson- A champion of children
For Children’s Aid Foundation board member and supporter, John Gibson, getting involved in the Foundation was a family affair and a long-time commitment. John and his wife Diane Mason have been investing in the lives of abused and neglected children and youth for more than thirteen years.
John and Diane became involved with the transition to independence program - the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC) - and were instrumental in raising money for the program, along with their son Scott. In 2005, John joined the Foundation’s board and has brought incredible insights with him from his own successful business, E.E.S. Financial Services, which is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year!
The Foundation gained more than just a board member with John. “There is a point you get to in life where you want to give back,” John believes. “During my time at PARC, I met some wonderful kids who had been given a rough lot in life and, through the programs offered, were working towards reaching their full potential. Diane and I decided that we wanted to help create these opportunities for other children and youth.”
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John Gibson and his wife Diane Mason at the Great Wall of
China on one of the trips auctioned at the Teddy Bear Affair |
True to his word, John became involved in many areas of the Children’s Aid Foundation. John and his family set up the Gibson Family Scholarship, an endowed fund, which provides financial support to current and former crown wards of child welfare organizations who are enrolled in an accredited post-secondary education program. John consistently encourages the Foundation to consider innovative and creative ideas, and was the founder of the Foundation’s Major Gifts Committee which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the Foundation’s prevention, enrichment and education programs.
John and Diane are also the single largest supporters of the Teddy Bear Affair’s live and silent auctions. Their successful bids have taken them on many exotic trips and even purchased a Toronto condominium.
“John and Diane are truly inspirational. They have always been so committed and genuinely interested in the youth that it in turn inspires us. I have been honoured to work with John over the years. His enthusiasm for the Foundation and dedication to the youth is phenomenal,” said John Sherrington, chairman of the Foundation Board.
When we asked John what he thought to be the highlight of his relationship with the Foundation, he replied, “hands down it was my two years spent chairing the Awards Committee because I got to see where and how the funds raised are awarded to deserving youth. You get to see inside these young people’s lives and hear about the struggles and hardships they have faced and you begin to realize just how much most of us take for granted.”
“I don’t believe that we are giving these youth a ‘break’ when we support them. I believe that we are giving them an opportunity to be on a level playing field, which is what every child and youth deserves.”
John summed it up very simply, “Diane and I want to be able to experience and see some of the works we believe in come to fruition during our lifetimes. We realize that there are children and youth who need help and we want to be there to give it to them.”
John’s dedication and enthusiasm as a Board member, committee chair and donor has been instrumental in the many successes of the Foundation. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we feel truly honoured and fortunate to have John’s expertise and vision helping to guide our organization.
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