Why I Give
Jim Archer-Shee and Mary Matthews can’t imagine Toronto without United Way
Jim Archer-Shee and Mary Matthews at River Restaurant, a Toronto Enterprise Fund initiative in Roncesvalles Village, May 2007.
“Walk around the Royal Bank offices and try to find someone who doesn’t know about United Way,” dares Jim Archer-Shee, with a twinkle in his eye. “If you can, I promise I’ll do something about it.”
You can take those words to the bank. As Executive Vice-President and Treasurer of RBC Financial Group, Jim is deeply involved with the bank’s United Way efforts. From participating in campaigns over the past 32 years, chairing RBC’s 2004 effort and sitting on United Way’s Major Individual Giving Cabinet for the past three years, Jim is clearly committed to the cause. He also spearheaded a group gift idea at RBC Capital Markets that has so far raised well over $300,000 for the Toronto Enterprise Fund, an employment training initiative for the city’s homeless and at-risk populations. “United Way is part of the fabric of the Royal Bank,” says Jim. “It’s woven right into the organization.”
United Way also benefits from the personal generosity of Jim and his wife Mary Matthews, the founding partner of Magna Partners Ltd. and past president of the Ontario Special Olympics. As United Way Leadership donors, this philanthropic power couple has a strong commitment to their community. Having raised their children in this city, Jim says he can’t envision Toronto without United Way.
“It’s nice when you can do something that’s important, that’s the right and human thing to do, but that also makes perfect economic sense,” he says. “United Way touches every aspect of need in the city, and does so with great efficiency and effectiveness. You always know when you give money to United Way that it’s going to something targeted and right around the corner from you. It’s absolutely essential.”