Outstanding Philanthropist: The Clark Family

Edmund Clark and family are described as “quietly effective” philanthropists. Unafraid of risk, their financial support has historically funded innovative service approaches that fall outside the existing norm, but which have become critically important to the alleviation of difficult social problems. 

The Clark Family is the primary benefactor behind WoodGreen Community Services’ program Homeward Bound, a holistic four-year job readiness program for under-housed or homeless single mothers, founded in 2004. The first of its kind in North America, and soon to be imitated in other Canadian communities, Homeward Bound brings together key supports to help under-housed or homeless single mothers earn college diplomas, start careers and achieve economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their children. Participants are provided with safe, affordable apartments with rent geared to income, while children attend the on-site daycare or After4 programs that include recreational activities and academic tutoring. Homeward Bound has assisted more than 72 families, including 90 children, and more than doubled its capacity when 44 new families entered the program during the summer of 2011. The Clarks have also helped fund another innovative start-up at WoodGreen, the First Step to Home program, which provides long-term stable housing for homeless senior citizen men who have a history of homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse problems. 

Other recipients of the Clarks’ major gifts include Habitat for Humanity and the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation, specifically its Diabetes Research and the Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery Initiative. Ed also co-chaired the Peter Munk Cardiac Care Centre Campaign for a period of seven years, which raised more than $100 million. 

More recently, Ed served as chair of the most successful United Way Campaign in North America, which raised $113.2 million in 2010. As chair, Ed jointly spearheaded a matching program with Seymour Schulich. The $1 million Clark-Schulich Partnership in Philanthropy meant that any donor who contributed to the United Way for the first time at a leadership level of $1,000 or more, or increased their leadership donation, would see their donation matched by this program. This helped the United Way make an even greater impact, so that Toronto agencies could recover more quickly from the 2008 recession. 

In addition to contributing significant personal donations, the Clark Family is credited with helping raise more than $200 million for Toronto charities. Actively and openly sharing their wealth and wisdom, the Clarks’ philanthropic leadership, giving and volunteering sets them apart, serving as an extraordinary example to other Canadians. 

The Clark Family was nominated for this award by the WoodGreen Foundation.