A family philosophy of giving

With a lifelong passion of helping others, Karen Green-Fischer’s work is continuing in her memory.   

When Karen passed away in 2021, she left a transformative $2 million legacy gift to United Way Greater Toronto.    

For Karen, caring for community was instilled by her family. Born in Toronto in 1950, her dedication to philanthropy and her passion for social issues were largely shaped by her late parents, Goldie Feldman and Abraham Green, who impressed upon their children the importance of enriching the lives of others.   

“Helping others became a family philosophy,” says Lindy Green, one of Karen’s siblings, who remembers experiencing first-hand her parents’ “charitable activism and commitment to making their communities a better place.”  

Lindy says their parents came from modest means, which fortified their empathy and commitment to working with charitable organizations dedicated to ending poverty and improving the health and wellness of community members.    

Goldie, who passed away in 2022, was a long-standing supporter of myriad communities across Toronto and was highly active in United Way’s community hubs, which offer a range of programs and services all under one roof.  

Both Goldie and Karen were deeply moved by the plight of struggling families.   

“I think Karen’s passion to help women and children came from witnessing our mother’s profound concern for this demographic,” says Lindy. “Karen was involved with many organizations during her lifetime, but first and foremost she believed in providing women and children with opportunities that would better their lives. The giving of both her time and resources made her a compassionate and caring human being, ultimately enriching her and our families’ lives.”  

Karen lived a full and impactful life. She was a singer in the JCC community choir and, after working as a primary school teacher, ran an art gallery and dedicated herself to charitable work near and dear to her heart.   

Remembered as a devoted community champion, Karen’s incredible gift will continue to support the causes she was so deeply passionate about for years to come. Meanwhile, Karen’s generosity serves as a lasting inspiration to others, including George Fischer, her husband of 33 years, their two grown sons, Ryan and Sean, their siblings, and many friends.   

“Seeing Karen’s legacy continue to help others inspires and reminds the family of the importance of thoughtful and strategic philanthropy,” Lindy says. “If there are any lessons to be learned from Karen’s life it is the importance of communities. We cannot thrive as a whole when so many others are struggling.  

“All of Karen’s family and friends feel extremely proud and happy to know that Karen’s legacy gift and memory will continue to positively impact the lives of others for years to come. The family hopes that Karen will be remembered for her beautiful, lively, and compassionate spirit. We hope too, that Goldie will be remembered for being a loving mother and a major supporter of the many communities in Toronto.”