A Legacy of Giving, Powered by a Donor-Advised Fund

For nearly 30 years, Joy Peltier cared for cancer patients as a Radiation Therapist, helping them navigate some of life's most difficult moments.

Working at the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, she witnessed firsthand how advances in technology and treatment transformed cancer care. She also saw the vital role philanthropy plays in helping health care organizations invest in the tools, equipment and innovations that improve patient outcomes.

Her perspective is shaped not only by her career, but by her own experience as a patient.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, she received treatment in the same building where she had spent much of her professional life.

"I have seen the evolution of cancer care, and I understand how important it is for centres to have the funds to implement these beneficial changes," she says. "I want to support excellent care close to home. And I have benefited from that care myself."

Her desire to give back extends beyond health care. She supports a number of charitable organizations across Durham Region, all united by a common goal: strengthening the community she calls home.

"I want to look after my neighbours," she says.

To help make that possible, she uses a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).

A DAF allows donors to contribute charitable dollars to a dedicated fund and recommend grants to the organizations and causes they care about over time. For her, it has become an effective way to maximize both her giving and her impact.

"Because I am able to allocate money to a DAF at the beginning of the year, it can be managed and grow over time," she explains. "This enables me to gift more money, and greater sums of money to each cause, something that can make a real difference."

The simplicity of the process is another benefit she values.

"I feel more secure using this fund, knowing that charities are vetted and that money is transferred safely," she says.

While the practical advantages are important, what matters most to her is the opportunity the DAF creates for long-term philanthropy.

"For me, the DAF is a legacy that my family will be able to continue to use to support the needs of others after I am gone."

She has structured the fund so future generations can continue the tradition of giving, including her sons.

"At the moment, I have the honour of gifting it," she says. "Eventually it will be my sons' honour."

As Lakeridge Health Foundation recognizes DAF Day, she hopes others will consider exploring this approach to charitable giving.

"I would encourage a DAF because of the simplicity involved, the security, and the fact that your initial investment can continue to grow, providing more opportunities to support causes that are close to your heart."

Most importantly, she hopes her family's example demonstrates that philanthropy isn't reserved for institutions or major corporations.

"I am so happy to be able to show my family what good we can do, even as individuals," she says. "It's a wonderful lesson."

Through her Donor-Advised Fund, she is helping ensure that patients across Durham Region continue to have access to exceptional care close to home, while creating a legacy of generosity that will endure for generations to come.