The desire to give back to the community seems to emanate from a great variety of sources. For me, the feeling that we all have a responsibility to each other began at home. From an early age we were encouraged in our family to look around at others, to find empathy for those less fortunate and to consider what we could do to make a difference – whether it be by a small gesture or as part of a bigger solution. There were many dinner table discussions (some of them quite heated!) about racism, homelessness and inequity in educational opportunities and as a passionate teenager, I was arrogant enough to believe I really could make a difference.

15 years out of school and 10 years in the workforce and my contribution back to the community had become disconnected. My husband and I had chosen our 5 charities, and we donated regularly and reliably, but we had little if anything to do with the charities and rarely reflected on the appropriateness of the giving. Having had 2 children, I found myself questioning the real difference that could be made by such a disconnected approach. What was I teaching my children by having an “out of sight out of mind” monthly direct debit?

When I first learned about the structure at Melbourne Community Foundation it felt like the perfect fit. We are able to build an endowment fund – immediately and over time - which can support our existing charities and/or consider other needs within the community. The depth of knowledge at MCF of grass roots giving has exposed my husband and I to needs within the community we were not aware of. Thanks to a vast range of experience amongst the staff, donations through MCF are able to find their way quickly and effectively to those who need it most.

The Baker Watson fund will, I hope, continue into perpetuity. When my children are old enough, I hope they will embrace the opportunity to engage in the dinner table conversation. I look forward to debating with them the merits or relative importance of community projects which we hope to support from the income of our fund. My hope is that it will encourage them to be truly connected with the world around them, and to feel and act upon the responsibility we all have to each other – for the rest of their lives.