Wealthy folk care about community
By John Mohan

According to Imagine Canada, it is a misconception that businesses care about profits but not communities. In February, the national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing charitable and voluntary sectors released the results of a 2,200-company survey which indicated more than 90% provide some form of support to Canadian charities. Eighty-three per cent contribute "because it is a good thing to do, irrespective of financial returns."

Even more of those surveyed believe their contributions help build strong and healthy communities, which is good for business.

Last Thursday evening, Cardinal Capital Management Inc. hosted a dinner which featured Second Cup co-founder Frank O'Dea at the stylish Inn at the Forks.

RBC, MPI and Nova 3 also helped sponsor this unique evening that brought together high-placed corporate leaders, those escaping homelessness who work in the MOST employment training program and Siloam Mission staff. CTV's Sylvia Kuzyk graciously and enthusiastically emcee'd the entire evening.

Some impacting statements were made that evening -- and they are worth repeating. Cardinal Capital's President and CEO Mr. Tim Burt explained why he supports homelessness causes, recalling the story of a past business acquaintance who was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The colleague subsequently lost his job, family and home. A few years later Mr. Burt received an unexpected phone call from his previous associate who was then living at a YMCA and requesting help.

As Tim talked about his friend, he remembered how he had felt so limited in his ability to give any sort of long-term assistance. Homelessness, he said, is much closer to home than what any of us might realize. And, while we may be individually limited in how we can help, supporting an agency dedicated to the needs of the homeless is a good place to start.

Frank O'Dea was profound, transparent and entertaining as he recited his journey from a middle-class West Montreal home to Toronto apartments to flop houses and eventually to the streets. While he explained his journey back to normalcy and success in the business world, a key point emerged.

As Second Cup coffee franchises began to thrive, friction developed between him and his business partner. Mr. O'Dea offered to buy out his co-founder's portion of the business, but when the partner countered, Frank was obligated to sell his share.

In an instant, he lost his business and became a multi-millionaire. He bought himself all the toys he could want, but once the thrill of having a mountain of money wore off and he had almost spent himself into exhaustion, he was left with a self-described knot in the pit of his stomach.

He knew he needed to do more than just live out his days in the lap of luxury. And so Frank O'Dea successfully moved into new areas in both the business and non-profit worlds.

Among many successful ventures, he became the founding chair of War Child (Canada) which provides humanitarian assistance to war-affected children, and also co-founded the Canadian Landmine Foundation, which raises funds to dismantle minefields.

As successful and charitable businessmen, are Tim Burt and Frank O'Dea an anomaly? A federal government survey revealed that while 75% of Canadians give to charity each year, 21% percent of Canadians accounted for 82% of the total value of all donations.

It's a misconception that the wealthier people are, the more self-involved they are.

Originally printed in the Winnipeg Sun, Thursday, April 17, 2008.
Reprinted with the permission of Sun Media Corporation.