Kitty Heller leaves a legacy

“Bombastic” was how Dick Hamilton described his friend and colleague, Kitty Heller, at her memorial celebration. Her tenacity made her a lawyer to be reckoned with; she fearlessly spoke her mind. She was lauded for her work in human rights and had served in the foreign service right after acquiring a master’s degree in international studies. “Imagine Kitty as a diplomat,” her sister Irene said.

Kitty would help her friends’ children, if they retained her with whatever loose change they had. She told them she would fight for their rights. Kitty’s capacity for caring about people was huge. No wonder she was such a strong supporter of YWCA Metro Vancouver.

Kitty has continued her strategic support of women through a bequest to the YWCA. First, Vancouver icon May Brown was honoured through Kitty’s contribution to the May Brown Leadership Endowment Fund for Young Women that helps fund the YWCA’s High School Mentorship Program. Since 1991, this program has matched more than 1,000 Grade 11 and 12 students with volunteer professional women in a one-to-one mentoring relationship.

A second part of Kitty’s bequest will support the Louise Donovan Youth Initiatives Fund. This fund, established upon Louise’s retirement from the YWCA after 32 years, supports two youth programs, Welcome to My Life™ and Boys 4 Real™. Since 2006, 931 youth have participated in this after-school program that helps them connect with positive role models and inspires them to play a leading role in their personal and community development, with a goal to change societal norms to reduce violence against women.
 
Finally, Kitty wanted to support YWCA Single Mothers’ Services through the YWCA Inner Circle. The Inner Circle was founded in 1991 by a small group of volunteers who wanted to know their monthly donations were directly helping women and children struggling in our community.

Kitty left this world a better place but much too soon. Bombastic? Most definitely. Thoughtful? While fighting cancer, Kitty prepared to leave a true legacy.

Please consider following Kitty’s example of leaving a legacy by updating your will with a bequest to the YWCA. You will be empowering women, children and youth, providing them with skills and independence to live more productive lives.

For more information on charitable bequests, please contact Celia Campos at 604 895 5810 or JoAnne Fahr at 604 895 5829.