Gift of Securities Goes Further

Continuing her longstanding commitment to the development of healthy families, Dr. Katharine Mirhady recently gave a gift of securities to support YWCA Vancouver programs that help build brighter futures for women, youth and children.

For over 30 years, Katharine, a two-time YWCA Women of Distinction Award nominee, operated a medical practice in South Vancouver with her husband Fred, a pediatrician, who passed away two years ago. She’s also been a longstanding financial supporter of the YWCA. Katharine explains, “My relationship with the YWCA goes back to the 1970’s, when I was working as a trustee with the Vancouver School Board on Tupper Young Parent Services and the child care component that became YWCA Emma’s Child Care Centre.”

YWCA Emma’s Child Care provides quality care for children of teen mothers who are completing their high school education through Tupper Young Parent Services. After touring Emma’s new home that opened in September 2006, Katharine says “I was tremendously pleased to see the old portables replaced with a new spacious and bright modular building.”

Seeing the difference that programs like YWCA Emma’s makes in the lives of women and children, Katharine knew she wanted to make her donation go as far as possible. So in fall 2006, she made a donation of securities rather than cash to the YWCA.

She says, “I was aware of the recent changes to the capital gains laws and knew it would be silly to sell the stocks and then donate the money. I’m pleased to be able to make a larger gift this way.”

A gift of securities, such as stocks or bonds, takes advantage of new tax laws that were introduced in the last federal budget. Canadians can now transfer publicly traded securities to registered charities and avoid paying any capital gains tax. A gift of securities means that the donor no longer has to pay 50% of the usual inclusion rate on capital gains, so more money can go directly to charitable organizations like the YWCA.

Reflecting on her retirement and the precious time she spends with her five children and 12 grandchildren, Katharine says she appreciates the fact that donating shares is so simple. “I spoke to someone at the YWCA, gave some information to my broker – and it was done.” She says, “A gift of securities is a great way to give.”



For more information on making gifts of securities to the YWCA, please contact Celia Campos at 604 895 5810/ ccampos@ywcavan.org.

Learn more about Gifts of Securities