Stories

The gift that keeps on giving

Sisters continue their parents’ legacy of philanthropy

The late Mark Nimigan never lost his commitment to Hamilton’s north end. He was born and raised there, and throughout a long career in Hamilton’s legal arena as a court reporter and official examiner, and then on Hamilton’s police service board, he volunteered with organizations serving north-end youth. In 1999, he and his wife launched the Mark and Barbara Nimigan Fund. It has provided support to north-end organizations and other priority needs in Hamilton ever since.

“He believed you didn’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference.”

Several years before his death in 2023, Mark started the process of passing the torch, bringing his two daughters into the fund’s administration. Margaret and Nancy sat in on discussions with HCF, as Mark was presented with granting possibilities and updates on community challenges.

“Our father was a passionate giver,” says Nancy. “He believed you didn’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference. You could give within your means and have an impact.”

Hamilton Community Foundation has made the logistics of that giving easy, and the Nimigan daughters appreciate the care HCF staff showed Mark in his later years. “As he declined, they continued to visit and discuss his fund with him,” says Nancy. “It made a big difference.”

“Dad had such strong feelings about what he was supporting, and a good focus,” Margaret says. “We feel good about what he and our mother created, and we are happy to continue it.”

Excerpt from 2023-24 annual report