Giving with Confidence

Giving with Confidence

Finding Peace of Mind Through a Legacy Gift

For Erin and Mark Baragar, the decision to include charitable giving in their wills was an unspoken understanding. 

“We don’t have children, and we don’t have anyone in our lives that could be considered a dependent,” Erin says. “So, of course, we turned towards charity.” 

Through their estate plans, the Baragars chose to create a lasting charitable gift through Winnipeg Foundation. Their gift will support local organizations that have shaped their lives, including St. Boniface Hospital and the University of Winnipeg, where they both attended school. 

Health care is deeply personal for both Mark and Erin. Erin’s father had several difficult open-heart surgeries and received care through the Asper Centre at St. Boniface Hospital. 

“The way they cared for him, and frankly, for us as well while he was in the ICU, is something that I’ll hold in my heart forever,” she says. 

Mark also has a personal connection to cardiac care. His father had two heart attacks, which made supporting St. Boniface Hospital feel especially meaningful. As healthcare systems face growing costs and pressure, he says it is important to help sustain the care families rely on. 

“The way they cared for him, and frankly, for us as well while he was in the ICU, is something that I’ll hold in my heart forever”

The University of Winnipeg is another important piece of their story. Erin and Mark both attended the university and later realized they had been in the same introductory political science class in 1995. 

For Mark, supporting political science is a way to support critical thinking at a time when he feels it is urgently needed.  “If we can help, maybe make a small difference going forward. If our money goes towards that after our passing, I am just over the moon about that,” he adds. 

As their estate plans took shape, the Baragars wanted to ensure the organizations that mattered most to them would be supported exactly as they intended. Their first conversation with Winnipeg Foundation was with Patricia Hrymack, Manager of Planned Giving. Before that conversation, Erin says she still pictured charitable giving as a one-time gift. Patricia helped them understand how a fund could support organizations year after year. 

“I didn’t really have an understanding of the longevity of the fund and the idea of perpetuity, so that was really fantastic and surprising in the best possible way… She made us feel like we were welcome,” Erin says, “and as though whatever we had to give was going to be welcome.” 

For the Baragars, Winnipeg Foundation offers peace of mind through responsible stewardship. They trust the Foundation to oversee their fund for the long term, adapting to changing circumstances while honouring their charitable wishes over time.

“We don’t have to think ahead and try to imagine where this money is going to be best used in 50 years,” Erin says. “We’ve got someone paying attention, and that’s kind of a big deal.” 

Looking back on their own planning process, the Baragars encourage others to begin estate planning early and have open conversations with family about their wishes. For Erin and Mark, planning ahead ensures their wishes are honored and that their generosity will continue helping Winnipeg, forever. EED and partner organizations served 16,252 participants, secured $45.6 million in income benefits, and helped people obtain 2,800 pieces of identification needed to access services and benefits.