Simple Wisdom

Theo Miller with one-week old great grandson Ethan Shah, granddaughter Pamela Shah and son Leonard Miller

Theo Miller’s wisdom is exactly what you’d expect from an almost 90 year old matriarch of nine children, 29 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren – simple.  “Invest in family and community because that’s who will walk beside you,” she offers, full of twinkle.  Theo and her late husband Mike embodied those values while raising a family, building a business and finally settling in White Rock 26 years ago.  The Peach Arch Hospital became an anchor to them in their community.

It was a beautiful love story. While she was still a teenager Theo and Mike would marry, have their first child and be the proud owners of a dump truck. Over the next 20 years they would be blessed with eight more children and juggle an always increasing debt load as they worked to build a contracting and cartage business. Miller family life was rich. Song, celebration and laughter are hallmarks of the their family life. The business would eventually prosper as would their growing family and community.

In 2006 Theo’s beloved Mike was diagnosed with dementia. From the day of diagnosis Peace Arch Hospital and staff began a walk beside them, first through acute and later extended care.  “It was a loving environment” Theo offers. “The nurses were extraordinary. They took such good care of Mike. He would sing to them… they loved him.” Mike died in 2007 shortly after celebrating his 90th birthday, “It was our community… we knew they would be there for us,” she adds.

The Miller’s traditionally supported the Peace Arch Hospital by writing an annual cheque. Since 2007 Theo found that gifts of securities were a tax efficient way to provide support. “A gift that supports the work of the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation and gives back to me – I’d say that maximizes my dollar. Wouldn’t you?” asks Theo, a characteristic smile sweeping across her face.

“Donating securities has become an increasingly popular way to give. It allows wins for both charity and donor and it is the most tax-effective way to support a charitable organization,” states Clark Shewfelt Investment Advisor at National Bank Financial Wealth Management. “When a security is given in kind the donor receives a two part benefit, a tax receipt on the gift and no tax on the capital gain. For large or small gifts it makes good sense to look at giving gifts of stocks, mutual funds or bonds,” he explains.

Find out more about supporting Peace Arch Hospital through Gifts of Securities:
http://www.peacearchhospital.com/images/pdf/securities.pdf

Click here to download the Peace Arch Hospital transfer share form:
http://www.peacearchhospital.com/images/pdf/planned-giving/share-transfer-form.pdf