Dear Vibeke,

Board Work as Service to the Community

I have been on the Hesperus Board since 2007, and have spent most of those years involved with some kind of fundraising. I currently serve as the Chair of Resource Development Circle and am Co-Chair of the Nominating and Governance Circle. 

What is Resource Development you might ask? In simple terms ~ it is fund raising. As members of the Board we all commit to work on circles (committees) and initiatives in addition to our regular meetings. Many years ago, when we were raising funds for the expansion everyone on the board was involved in fundraising to some extent. I stepped into fundraising at that time and have never looked back (regardless of how uncomfortable it can be at times!). Those days were not easy times. I remember long meetings that sometimes ran past eleven at night, and many hours of discussions on how to move forward with our expansion and meet the needs of our community. There were plenty of conversations about the challenges of money, and yet, supporters always emerged. Here we stand, almost twelve years later, a much larger community, thanks in part to all of our work at that time, and the love and caring of our many donors..  

As our organization evolved, fundraising became the responsibility of a smaller committee, although all board members continue to play a role in some way. It seems there are not many people who like to ask others for money and I confess to being one of them! I have been writing this newsletter since 2014. What helps me in this work is how strongly connected I feel to our vision, mission and values (See below). Being able to write about the lives of our residents over the last many years has been a gift to me and makes my time on the board more than worthwhile. For me, connecting directly with residents, talking to and working with them is the best part of being on the board. These relationships and my desire to be of service to residents helps me move through the less comfortable parts of being a Resource Development Circle Chair.

I have extended my love of biography to my work with our amazing donors as well. Sometimes donors are also residents. One of the strengths of Hesperus Village is that we are a blended community. While there are residents that live here with the assistance of subsidies we also have residents that live here and pay our affordable market rents and these resident donors often feel compassion and care for the broader community and extend themselves to give. I recently interviewed a resident donor and I greatly enjoyed learning about his life as I am sure you will in ‘A Donor’s Story’ below. 

Vibeke Ball

Chair, Resource Development Circle

A Donor's Story

Gregory Sass

Earlier this year, our Executive Director, Pina Corigliano, called to let me know that one of our residents, Gregory Sass, had offered a donation of $100,000 in the form of a pledge of $20,000 a year for five years. He presented this significant gift as an unrestricted donation given in freedom to our staff to achieve our goals. His strong connection to the work that we do, and his demonstration of trust in our organization was very moving. 

I had the pleasure of spending some time with Gregory to discuss his pledge to Hesperus and to learn more about his story of giving. Greg was born in Berlin, Germany in 1938 and lived through WW II and its aftermath. His family emigrated to Canada in 1953. He says: “These were tough times, but I now accept that this was my destiny. I’m grateful that I survived - that I was luckier than so many others. I am keenly aware when today people in other countries such as Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti suffer. My heart goes out to them, and that is why I have supported Doctors without Borders and the UN World Food Program for decades."

"In my life, I have loved and been loved. I’ve hurt others and been hurt myself. At times, I wanted to give up on life. Then, one day, I decided to change: to live more consciously, kindlier to myself and others. It didn’t happen overnight. In fact, I’ve been working at it for the last sixty years. It’s been a fumbling, bumbling kind of business. I succeed and I fail, but I have come to trust the path."

"Retirement has been a luxurious blessing. It has allowed me to live an examined life, to be my own man, to become wiser, to nourish others and to write daily. I am humbled to be so privileged.”

Over his lifetime, Greg has often found himself in the role of supporting others financially. His compassion and caring is seen when his face lights up as he shares how he helped nine young people through higher education ~ his reward is knowing that he is contributing to the future and playing a role in helping others do something for the world. 

During the last eight years of living at Hesperus, Greg has developed many meaningful relationships and has come to feel strongly connected to the community. Some of his close friends at Hesperus have crossed the threshold, like Sybille Hahn, and he expressed how much he misses them and still carries them in his heart.

So, why such a gift to Hesperus Village? Greg shared with me how organizing his will and power of attorney made death and dying quite real for him. He explained that he really wanted to do something now, before crossing the threshold.

“Recently I realized that Hesperus has really become home for me. It is an oasis and a community where I feel connected to everyone and where we all care about one another. This is what the good life should be like. My rent is also very reasonable and this has saved me money over the years. The donation I'm making over the next five years is intended to acknowledge these things. I hope to help Hesperus continue to be a wonderful place where we offer meaning, warmth, encouragement, and dignity to one another.”

Greg chose not to remain anonymous with his gift, in the hopes that it will encourage others to think about their own end of life planning and think about any gifts they may wish to leave. "I wanted to be as caring and responsible as I could in making these final decisions."

Gregory, heartfelt thanks for your very generous gift, also thank you for sharing some of your story and very importantly for demonstrating such great trust in the work that we do. 

Living on through Art

Corina Tataru

Corina Tataru’s last major work of art…two paintings of the pond hang in our lobby. Her daughter Adina told me that “Corina put so much passion and work into these final paintings and would be so proud to see them on display”. 

An anonymous donor purchased them from the family so they could live on at Hesperus. Adina and her family thank everyone involved in showing and appreciating her work and presenting it in the best light.

A much-loved Hesperus resident who crossed the threshold in October 2021, Corina loved the view from her 4th floor Hesperus apartment overlooking the school and the pond. Another one of her paintings, the students playing outside in winter at recess, is often on display downstairs in the alcove near the stained glass window and is also available by print as a small fundraiser for Hesperus. Contact Vibeke at vibekeball@mac.com. or 416-993-7367 Paper Pipit currently has a beautiful framed copy on display for sale.

Click here to read more about Corina’s interesting life and to see photos.