Gale Dudnick, long a champion of women and children, bequeathed $25,000 to 100WWCG in recognition of our shared dedication. While Gale was never a member of 100WWCG, she was touched by the impact our group has made in Guelph since 2014, and entrusted us with dispersing these funds to local charities.

For more information on Gale Dudnick, please see the article below, written by Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, another grateful beneficiary of this amazing woman’s compassion for others.

We are honoured to share this heartwarming donor story with you.

GALE’S GIFT – An Inspiring Legacy of Generosity

One year ago, we received a very special phone call. The caller, Donald Kirk, shared that we had been left a $25,000 gift in the will of Gale Dudnick, his partner who died in May of 2022.

Gifts of this size are incredible to receive and allow us to serve our community better, but they are also incredibly moving. To think that our mission was what this woman chose to support as one of her final acts on earth. Humbling.

Gale was a real champion of women and wanted to help those vulnerable to abuse or exploitation. She served as an unofficial therapist to many women friends. Gale supported other women who engage in philanthropy through a gift to the 100 Women Who Care Guelph group. She also cared about youth and donated $25,000 each to Food4Kids, the Children’s Foundation of Guelph & Wellington and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph. Collectively, what an impact her $125,000 of giving will have for our community!

Donald shared, “Gale was a private and complex person who wanted to remain out of the limelight. Yet, I believe she would be happy to have this story about her giving made public, especially if it inspires others to give part of their estate to worthy organizations. I am so proud of how she used her estate to give back to others.”

Donald shared that Gale comforted many a passenger on Air Canada, through her role as a Flight Attendant, listening with kindness and offering “tidbits from her endless font of wisdom.” A number of these passengers were quite famous, especially those in the film and entertainment industry, however she treated everyone equally and was never star-struck. She continued this tradition in her small clothing and design boutique business in Rockwood and shoppers felt special through her treatment and attention. She also dutifully cared for both her aging parents, Peter and Madeline, in their last years and made sure their every need was fulfilled, despite the amount of time it took and mental exhaustion it caused.  

Her dearest friend, Yvonne, had this to say about Gale after their shared 49 years of friendship:

“I know firsthand the countless number of people she helped mentally, physically and financially, many times putting her well-being to the side. I vividly remember the first time I met her. She made me feel I was the most important person in the room and that I really mattered, right when I needed that most. Gale held her cards close… you would never know by looking at her what personal struggles she herself endured. She always had a smiling face and a listening ear and was more interested in you than anything else. She was highly intelligent and the most well-spoken person I ever met.”

Yvonne also noted, “Even at an early age, she wisely used her gift to comfort others. Gale had great empathy for anyone struggling, but especially for women and children; they held a special place in her heart.”

We are grateful to Gale for her generosity. Gale lived her values until her last breath and now her legacy gifts will help create the kind of community where women and children are supported and lifted higher.