Andrew Beckerman is back as a Times 91原创 Christmas Fund donor, something he says is an important part of the season for him.
鈥淚 do this because I can and I think we feel as 91原创s that everybody should live reasonably well. We鈥檙e obviously not at that point,鈥� said the retired architect. 鈥淎s an immigrant from the United States, I feel that my contributions resonate more with kind of the bedrock of what 91原创 society is.
鈥淎nd I think that occasions like Christmas, where everybody is celebrating, it鈥檚 kind of hard if you鈥檙e not in any way part of this celebratory season 鈥� whether we think it鈥檚 good, bad or indifferent to be buying stuff or going out for extra meals and this or that.鈥�
It鈥檚 a time when people can easily feel left out, Beckerman said.
鈥淎s winter arrives and the shortest day of the year, the lack of sun, I think it鈥檚 a time when people are particularly vulnerable.鈥�
That鈥檚 where the Times 91原创 Christmas Fund comes in, he said.
Since 1956, this newspaper has collected money to benefit the less fortunate. Last year we raised and distributed about $308,000, and we hope to beat that total this year.
鈥淚 feel that by giving to the fund we can make a bit of Christmas for, if not everybody, at least as many people as possible,鈥� Beckerman said.
Giving 鈥渋s a way to equalize how our community lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think the Christmas Fund is just a great annual appeal to create good tidings for everybody in our community.鈥�
Beckerman prefers to give to the Christmas Fund and many other charities with matched challenges 鈥� pledging a sum of money that kicks in when others match it.
He has donated to the fund that way for the past three years.
鈥淟ast year we did four $500 matched challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his year we鈥檙e doing five.鈥�
The matched challenges for the fund have gone better and better over time, said Beckerman. Watch the Times 91原创 Christmas Fund donor list for his challenge.
鈥淭he first year it took about two weeks to do two challenges,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he second year it took about a week to do three challenges.
鈥淟ast year it literally took two days.鈥�
He said such challenges seem to be more common now in Canada than when he arrived from the United States 14 years ago.
鈥淚t always seems to work,鈥� he said. 鈥淢atching seems to draw people鈥檚 attention, which is great.鈥�
Beckerman鈥檚 efforts earned him the Generosity of Spirit Award at Victoria鈥檚 National Philanthropy Day event last year. Among the many groups he supports is the Victoria Cool Aid Society and he also volunteers with AIDS 91原创 Island.
In 2017, he pledged his $750,000 art collection to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
HOW TO DONATE
鈥� Go to . That takes you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
鈥� Mail a cheque, payable to the Times 91原创 Christmas Fund Society, to the Times 91原创 Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria V8T 4M2.
鈥� Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Outside those hours, leave a message, we鈥檒l call back.
