Creating a family legacy of giving & gratitude
“Before we had Victoria, we decided that we really wanted to expose her to the world,” says Lori. “We want her to know that she has a lot to be grateful for, and that it’s important to give back.” - Lori
Every Christmas since her daughter was about two years old, Lori Payne would take Victoria along with her to the store to buy presents for the annual KW Toy Drive. This isn’t just a one-off event — it’s part of an overall philosophy of giving and gratitude that Lori and husband Rob have actively cultivated, and made a family motto.
It’s this same philosophy that led the Payne’s to set up a bequest in their will for Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF), which Rob says is an opportunity to invest in the community over the long term.
“We don’t see this as charity. We see this as an investment to give back to the community that gave us everything we have,” says Rob.
Lori and Rob, who met three decades ago as students at Wilfrid Laurier University, have given a lot of thought to the bequest. They look forward to potentially involving Victoria, now 13, in deciding how to allocate funds — whether it’s donor-advised, part of a community fund, or invested for impact.
“I love the fact that at WRCF we can choose down the road how we want to allocate the bequest, and that Victoria can have a role in helping to make that decision,” says Lori.
This legacy of giving is something that Lori has embraced for decades, eagerly offering up her skills, time, and passion to a number of organizations throughout the Region. For the last seven years, she has been on the Board for WRCF, and in 2019 stepped into the role of Vice-Chair. She began volunteering after feeling like she wasn’t fully appreciating all of the wonderful things in her life.
“I knew I needed to volunteer in order to stay grounded,” says Lori. “That small ability to make an impact, learn about an issue, and to make a difference with my skills — that’s what I love.”
That perspective fits perfectly with the family’s decision to set up a bequest, says Lori, adding that it’s also a great option for individuals and families who may not be able to give something now, but who want to create a lasting legacy.
If you would like to learn more about family philanthropy or establishing a legacy fund with WRCF, please contact Dan Robert, Director, Philanthropy at dan@wrcf.ca or 519-725-1806 x 205.
Note: This story was written prior to Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation and Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation unifying to become Waterloo Region Community Foundation. Although the story was created by KWCF, we have updated the organization name to WRCF throughout the story.