PERSPECTIVE AND GRATITUDE: WRCF volunteer Gary Abbott passionate about helping youth

Gary Abbott

Gary Abbott’s desire to give back was not part of some eureka moment. Rather, it was something he saw with his own eyes growing up, part of the fabric of his upbringing.

“It does ultimately come back to my parents,” Abbott said. “Both my mom and my dad, from the beginning, were adamant about the value of giving back, giving to others, and helping others.”

While raising a house full of kids, Abbott’s mom would help with contributions in and around the family’s hometown of Dundas, while his dad remains active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Hamilton.

That, along with his positive experiences related to volunteering in school at the primary, secondary, and university levels, solidified Abbott’s decision to follow in his parents’ footsteps.

Having returned to Waterloo Region in 2018 after working in London, England for two years, Abbott was keen to put down permanent roots and become involved in the community, just as he was before moving across the big pond.

He was pointed in the direction of Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) and has been involved with their organization ever since, serving as a volunteer member of the Children & Youth Committee.

“That was something that was missing in my heart,” Abbott said of volunteering.

The 36-year-old had previously been involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region and coached sports programs, including Special Olympics and Waterloo Minor Hockey.

As part of the Children & Youth Committee, Abbott helps review applications for two different streams: The Waterloo Region Record — Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund is about providing opportunities for youth in the community to attend various summer programming, while the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund aims to sustain various youth recreational programs.

“What we’re trying to look for is to ensure as much opportunity for youth as we can, to try to support different needs, different groups, and types of programming as equally as we can,” Abbott said. “Ultimately, trying to ensure that deserving programs and deserving organizations have the best opportunity to serve our youth.

“It’s sad when anyone is not afforded the same opportunities, but I find it particularly difficult when it’s children,” he added. “This is, in the grand scheme of things, a pretty small investment for me to make that can help some youth participate in recreation, or to go to camp. To have a positive impact on a kid’s life who otherwise wouldn’t have that opportunity, that’s a pretty cool thing to think about.”

The fit with WRCF has been ideal for Abbott, a Solutions Engineer at Shopify.

“One of the greatest benefits is that you get exposed to so many different tremendous organizations and people that are doing such great work for the community,” he said of WRCF. “You get a little bit of an insider look into some of those opportunities.

He encourages anyone intrigued by the idea of volunteerism to do some research and find the right opportunity at that moment, understanding that life can and will ebb and flow.  

“There are many opportunities out there, so find something that aligns with your passions – something that hits your heart – and see how that might fit into your current life, priorities, and values.”

Priorities and values are ultimately what it comes back to for Abbott, who sees giving back as a responsibility as well as an opportunity to make a positive impact on his community.

“I think more than anything it offers perspective, it offers gratitude, it offers presence, and I think kind of related to those words it offers balance,” he said. “There are so many ways we can re-establish and reinforce community bonds through volunteerism at a time where there’s a lot of isolation, stress, and anxiety. It’s kind of like giving our community a big hug and I think that whatever small part we can do not only helps the community around you but it’s going to help yourself as well.”

He added: “There are little things we can all do to make this community better. How can we find the little ways that fit our current situation to help out others? This isn’t about grand gestures. It’s just about picking your spots.”

To see a list of WRCF’s current committees, visit wrcf.ca/committees. If you are interested in learning more about future volunteer opportunities with WRCF, you can submit an Expression of Interest form, and we will reach out if a volunteer position becomes available.