A gift to strengthen the future of health care
Asha and Ravi, Jab Sidhoo’s children, are thrilled to carry on their father’s legacy. supplied
Throughout his lifetime, Ajaib (Jab) Sidhoo contributed greatly to Vancouver and British Columbia. His legacy is a powerful one, and it includes his role as one of the founding members of the BC Lions football team in 1954 and his leadership as an entrepreneur in Vancouver’s South Asian community.
Jab’s story embodies the Canadian dream – an individual who came to Canada for a better life and who built a loving home and community. With success came a commitment to making life better for those around him.
Born in British-ruled India in 1923, Jab came to B.C. at the age of six. Rising from his modest roots, he built a prosperous life. He was one of the first Canadians of South Asian descent to serve in the Second World War, and he founded East India Carpets in Kitsilano, a fixture in Vancouver and a base for community leadership. His passion for football never wavered; a lifelong season ticketholder, he tried to attend every home game.
Jab shared his success with the community through philanthropy, and health care was one of the causes he felt strongly about supporting. In 1998, he became a donor to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. He also established the Ajaib (Jab) and Nirmal (Munni) Sidhoo Charities Endowment Fund, which provides funding to young researchers at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital to study urology and diabetes.
When he passed away in 2016 at age 93, Jab left a generous gift of securities to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in his will. It was another facet of his legacy, a gift to strengthen health care for future generations.
“My father’s legacy was one of hard work, and coming from humble beginnings, he built a successful business that still thrives today,” says Asha Fraser, Jab’s daughter. “His belief in giving back and helping others will live on through his scholarships and endowments. Our family and friends will always remember his kindness and generosity as an example of how to live a fulfilling life.”
Donor community elevates excellence
Donations from people like Jab Sidhoo are the lifeblood of charities like VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, says Kerry Shillito, associate director of gift and estate planning. “Collectively, our donors amplify each other’s impact and become a catalyst for the transformation of B.C.’s health-care system.”
While government funding supports essential infrastructure and services, the donor community is a bridge to elevated levels of excellence, Shillito adds. “Communities are growing, families are prospering and generations are living longer, putting more pressure on a health-care system already facing competing priorities and demands. Philanthropy is critical to ensuring the best health outcomes for us all now and for generations to come.
“Donations help our health-care leaders pave a path for better care at our hospitals and health centres in multiple ways – from the acquisition of vital and life-saving equipment to the adoption of innovative care models for a more sustainable system.”
Donor funds also support the recruitment and retention of top-tier clinicians and scientists, she says, and “they accelerate research to allow us to unravel the mysteries of disease sooner.”
The power of legacy giving
Supporters of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation have many options for demonstrating their support, including legacy giving. Bequest gifts or gifts in wills are the most common form of legacy gifts. Shillito says donors who choose legacy giving often explain how incredibly rewarding they find it is to make that decision.
“Legacy giving is the ultimate expression of a lifetime of support to your favourite causes,” she says. “I think of it as one person’s life touching the lives of others and reverberating across generations.”
A legacy gift often means an individual can make a far more substantial donation than they ever could in their lifetime. “Adding charitable gifts to your will is easy to do, and depending on the individual or family’s specific financial situation, it can provide tax benefits to the estate,” explains Shillito.
Donors are advised to seek counsel from their trusted professional advisers about the options that will best meet their specific needs.
Many people who give a legacy gift are expressing gratitude for the high quality of care they or a family member received from VGH and affiliated centres, she says. “Others simply believe in the importance of supporting excellence in our public health system for thriving and resilient communities. And they see us as trusted custodians of their legacy gifts.”
Jab Sidhoo’s contributions to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, both through his research endowment and legacy gift, are a source of joy and pride, adds Shillito. “His life story, which is so much a story of Vancouver, is an inspiration to us all. And as a foundation, we are fortunate to be woven into the tapestry of the lasting legacy he has left for our city, our province and beyond.”
For more information, visit vghfoundation.ca/wills-save-lives, call 604-790-0989, or e-mail kerry.shillito@vghfoundation.ca
To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com
To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition: Estate planning & legacy giving