Throwing down the gauntlet has paid off handsomely for the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.
Long-time supporter Andrew Beckerman’s annual dare to have people match his $500 donation has resulted in at least three people taking him up on the challenge.
“It is so interesting to me … [that] when you give people a challenge to match something, it gets people to open their chequebooks,” he said. “And that’s great news.”
The retired architect challenged Times Colonist readers to match his $500 donation to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund — his bid to make his community a little better and to see his money do some good while he’s still around to appreciate it.
Beckerman said he would issue the challenge up to three times, donating up to $1,500 in total, if people stepped up to match him.
There were at least three within a week of laying out the challenge.
“Last year, it took us almost two weeks to get to the third challenge and finish my $1,500 worth — this year we did it in under a week,” he said. “It is awesome. I am set to do it again next year.”
Beckerman said he likes the matching idea as it means each dollar is worth $2.
How to donate
• Go to timescolonist.com/donate. The site is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Mail a cheque, payable to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria V8T 4M2.
• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Outside those hours, messages will be accepted.
