When Pierre Charbonneau looks back on his career, philanthropy is a discreet but constant connecting thread. He didn\u2019t learn it at school or from books. It was in the workplace\u2014first in Ottawa, then in Montreal at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton\u2014that the culture of giving entered his world. Centraide\u2019s annual campaigns were a big part of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a human resources professional, Pierre had always wanted to help people navigate major life changes. But it was a deeply affecting personal experience that made him think about the impact he wanted to leave behind. In 2023, Denis Vincent, his partner of almost 50 years, passed away. The loss was profound.\u00a0Pierre was\u00a0very involved\u00a0in Centraide. He was a member of the Centraide Board and the Centraide Foundation\u2019s Board. He has seen\u00a0Centraide\u2019s\u00a0professionalism,\u00a0rigour\u00a0and impact from the inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI had to redraft my will. And as I was doing it, I found it sad that everything would end there. I wanted a continuation. Denis and I did everything together. I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0want the gift to come from just Pierre Charbonneau. I wanted it to be from Pierre Charbonneau and Denis Vincent.\u201d The need to leave a joint legacy, to keep their shared commitment alive even after death, led Pierre to include a planned gift to\u00a0Centraide of Greater Montreal in his will. His choice was not random.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCentraide is a pillar of our community, a vital force for good in Greater Montreal. They know exactly where the needs are and make informed choices to meet them.\u00a0I myself\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0be able to give to all the agencies that need support. But Centraide can. They make sure the money goes where it counts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Pierre sees planned giving as a concrete way to give back to the community. And, on a more personal level, as a way to keep memory alive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDenis and I didn\u2019t have children. In our generation, that wasn\u2019t common for same-sex couples. But I didn\u2019t want to think that this was the end. Making a gift that will live on over time is a way to extend something of ourselves into the future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pierre Charbonneau\u2019s gift reminds us that a will can be much more than a legal document. It can be an act of love. An act of recognition. An act of hope. And above all, a way to continue building a more just world, one gift at a time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pierre\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0see his gift as an act of generosity but as a recognition of his own good fortune, and a way to share it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo matter how much we make, we\u2019re often luckier than many people around us. And if we don\u2019t contribute a little, who will? The government can\u2019t do everything. It\u2019s up to us too.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\ud83c\udfa5<\/strong> If this approach resonates with you, click here<\/a> to watch a video on how to make a planned gift through your will, like Pierre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n1 out of 5 people receives our help.
5 out of 5 people benefit from it.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n Let’s all lend a hand<\/font><\/b><\/span>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n\n