This text is part of the special section Philanthropy
Last year, at age 25, Sébastien Hally decided to make a rare philanthropic gesture among people his age. He chose to make a major donation to the CHU de Sainte-Justine Foundation.
“When I was four years old, says Sébastien Hally, I suffered a rather serious accident, and it was at Sainte-Justine hospital that I was treated,” he says.
Indeed, while playing with his older sister, Sébastien passes through a glass door, which causes a major laceration in his right wrist and requires a delicate operation, followed by a period of rehabilitation.
“Thanks to the efficiency and quality of care provided by the medical team at Sainte-Justine Hospital,” he continues, “I was able to regain the use of my hand even before I entered kindergarten. Today, at the beginning of my professional life, if I am healthy and have the use of my right hand, it is thanks to the staff at Sainte-Justine. I will always be grateful to him. »
His parents too, since shortly after their son’s accident they became donors to the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. Sébastien, as soon as he had the means, also became a monthly donor.
The gift of life insurance
But he wanted to do more. “I understood that I had suffered an accident when I was a child, and that today, other children continue to be victims of accidents. I wanted to do something to help ensure that these injured children could receive the same quality of care as me. »
So he wondered how to go about it. “Because I’m at the beginning of my professional career, I don’t have a lot of assets yet, which prevents me from making a bigger contribution from them. »
He then discussed it with his parents, then with Nathalie Gagnon, who takes care of planned gifts for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. “And it was together that we managed to choose the donation by life insurance. »
In his case, Sébastien Hally took out a life insurance policy and listed the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation as the beneficiary.
“This has the advantage of allowing me to make a larger donation, continues Sébastien Hally, and this, for a financial contribution that I can assume now, i.e. pay the insurance premiums, which basically deprives me of little . »
Is this his last philanthropic gesture? “I doubt it, says Sébastien Hally. For now, I will continue with my career and my life, and later I will be better able to assess my capacity to act. But one thing is certain, philanthropy will always be part of my values. »