A legacy of love, curiosity and compassion: André and Hendrika’s gift to UNICEF

For André and Hendrika, giving back was always part of who they were. 

As a young Jewish boy in the Netherlands during the Second World War, André survived by living in hiding with a family who took him in as their own. Much of his immediate family, including his parents, did not survive the Holocaust. 

Despite living through such devastating tragedy, this early act of kindness shaped the values that guided André, as well as Hendrika, throughout their nearly 75 years together. Ultimately it led them to give to UNICEF, both during their lifetime and through their legacy. It’s through these gifts that opportunities will be possible for children for years to come. 

"Deeply held values of social justice"

Born in Amsterdam, André and Hendrika met as young adults in a socialist youth group in the years following the Second World War.  

Their daughter Karen recalls the family story: “There was a knock at the door during a meeting, my dad opened it and his heart stood still because my mother was standing there.” 

After immigrating to Canada in 1955, they built a life rooted in compassion, learning, family and a deep belief that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.  

David, their son, believes both of his parents carried a strong sense of social responsibility throughout their lives. 

“I always felt that our parents' kindness and deeply held values of social justice manifested themselves in a strong feeling that everyone in this world deserves an equal chance. They recognized that in our world as is, opportunity is far from equal and many face extreme hardship.” 

Those values explain why UNICEF became a charity that resonated strongly with André and Hendrika throughout their lives. 

“As an organization that invests in children, UNICEF always seemed to me to be a perfect fit for what our parents held so dear, supporting more children to have hope and to give them the opportunity to meet their potential,” he explains.   

The importance of generosity in different forms  

Their support for UNICEF was not limited to plans made in their Wills. In 2018, Hendrika and André made a significant gift to UNICEF — a gift that allowed children to benefit immediately, while later, their estate gift ensured that support would continue for generations to come. 

For David, this combination of giving during their lifetime and after through their estate, reflects his parents’ philosophy of giving when you can. “If giving is important to you, there are many opportunities to help others, while you are living and through a legacy gift from your estate," he says to others considering charitable giving. 

Helping children reach where they want to be 

That desire to help children succeed is at the heart of the gift they chose to leave behind. 

Karen believes her parents would have hoped their support would provide the essentials every child needs to reach their potential. 

“Education was very important to my parents. They would have hoped that any support they gave would allow children to benefit and to be able to help them reach where they wanted to be.” 

This desire was reflected in how they raised their own family of five children – with curiosity about the world around them. As Karen and David recall, family life was filled with museum visits, music, camping trips, skiing weekends and opportunities to learn. In retirement, that passion continued for Hendrika and André through courses at McGill's Institute for Learning in Retirement, where they remained engaged participants and facilitators. 

As Karen reflects on their legacy, what shines through most is gratitude: for the opportunities they were given, for the family they built, and for the chance to help others. “I think my parents felt like they had been incredibly blessed in their lives and that they could then move it forward,” says Karen.  

Their legacy gift to UNICEF is a final expression of those values. It is a gift rooted in empathy, shaped by lived experience and inspired by hope. 

Because of André and Hendrika, more children will have the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream of a brighter future.  

Learn more about legacy giving here.