Andrew Beckerman has issued what is becoming his annual Christmas challenge.
In a bid to make his community a little better and to see his money do some good while he’s still around to appreciate it, the retired architect is once again challenging Times Colonist readers to match his $500 donation to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.
In fact, he’s willing to triple his donation if others are willing to take him up on the challenge.
“Assuming it’s taken up like it was last year, I am committed to doing up to three $500 challenges,” Beckerman said.
He likes the idea of throwing down the gauntlet as it gives people more bang for their charitable buck.
“I’ve lived in Canada for 12 years now and my sense is matching challenges are less known up here than they are in the U.S. But it’s something that helps to multiply my giving,” said Beckerman, who became a Canadian citizen nearly three years ago.
“There’s something about every dollar you contribute being matched — and other donors are getting two dollars for the price of one.”
Beckerman has always believed in passing on his good fortune, whether by offering $10 to $25 a year to the Neediest Cases Fund organized by the New York Times when he was just a kid or through his volunteer work with AIDS Vancouver Island. He has been involved with the group for more than 10 years.
“I believe I live better if everyone lives better,” he said.
“I was given a lot of lucky breaks along my life and it ends up with me being in a position to both donate significant amounts of money and a fair whack of time as well.
“Although I am no spring chicken, I actually enjoy the notion of giving it now while I can see the benefit and the positive effect it has on the community in which I live.”
In addition to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, Beckerman has given his time and money to causes and organizations such as the Victoria Cool Aid Society, Our Place Society, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.
“The holidays have never been a major thing for me, but I know they are for lots of people, and I certainly know a lot of people of all ages who struggle with the holidays if their experience doesn’t match the advertised experience,” he said. “So this is a relatively easy thing to do.”
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.
