CHARITY FROM THE HEART
RENU KAPOOR IS RELENTLESS IN RALLYING RESOURCES FOR REGINA’S NON-PROFITS
Rubbing sleep from her eyes after a succession of late nights, Renu Kapoor spends many waking hours volunteering — unpaid work that has won her numerous awards and the hearts of many Reginans.
Rising at 5 a.m., Kapoor devotes 10 hours every day of the week to charity work.
“I work harder now than I ever did in my job,” she says laughing. “Volunteering is a full-time job. But I enjoy what I do so that makes it easier and there’s lots of variety because there’s so many groups I’m working with.”
Kapoor has become legendary in Regina, and beyond, for her commitment to non-profit organizations and her special interest in multiculturalism.
Sandy Wankel, executive director of the North Central Family Centre, is inspired by Kapoor’s dedication.
“I appreciate women like Renu because she’s really direct and has a tremendous work ethic,” Wankel says. “When you work with Renu, it’s not unusual to get an email at 4:30 in the morning ... I don’t know when she sleeps.”
As she got to know Kapoor, Wankel realized that she understands the challenges of sustainability for grassroots organizations like the North Central Family Centre.
“Without people like herself stepping up and helping, we wouldn’t be able to carry on,” Wankel says. “She really has a heart for the children. I find that people who come from developing countries have an understanding that if we don’t all step up, it just won’t get done.”
Born near Dehli, Kapoor left India in 1965 and came to Regina.
Her master’s degree in social work wasn’t recognized in Canada so she went to the University of Wisconsin and completed her graduate studies in 1969.
Upon her return to Regina, she worked as a social worker with Mental Health and Addiction Services for more than 37 years.
During that time, she supervised many undergraduate and graduate students in the faculty of social work and psychology department at the University of Regina and counselled families and couples.
“I really enjoy people and I always work with them where they are, not where I want them to be,” she says.
When she was counselling, cocaine was the street drug of choice.
“I did work with cocaine addicts in the methadone program,” Kapoor says.
“For 15 or 20 years I was in charge of the methadone program.”
She’s troubled by the growing number of opioid overdoses and deaths across the country, despite increasing awareness about the dangers of drugs.
“There’s more awareness, but more usage,” Kapoor says. “Marijuana will be legalized pretty soon and I have some mixed feelings.”
She urges those with drug users in their family circle to attend support groups to understand how to deal with addiction.
“Family members can have a lot of guilt when one person starts using and they don’t know what to do,” she says. “That only comes through support groups and knowledge and awareness.”
The Reginan traces her spirit of giving to her parents who were involved in improving lives in India, one life at a time.
“My mother always believed in giving back to the community where you live,” Kapoor says. “My dad did a lot of volunteer work, but mom did a lot more. She was not a person to sit home and do the cooking.”
Her mother’s accomplishments included starting a school for young women who could not afford an education.
If I believe in a cause, I feel very passionate about it and then I give myself wholeheartedly. — Renue Kapoor
Taking a leaf from her mother’s book, Kapoor retired early to volunteer full time. She continued private counselling until volunteering took top billing.
“Last year I said, 'That’s it. I don’t have time!' "
Over the years, Kapoor has volunteered with many groups including the Regina Food Bank, Saskculture, the Regina Public Library, the Kids Help Phone, the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation and the Regina chapter of Osteoporosis Canada.
On the national board of Osteoporosis Canada for eight years, she started the Regina chapter in her home in the late 1980s. Eventually the operation expanded to an office on Cavendish Street.
But with the centralization of services, local chapters of Osteoporosis Canada are closing. Kapoor was sad to see the office close in May, but was satisfied that the office furniture and supplies were distributed to non-profit organizations.
Her many commitments have included chairing the YWCA’S Women of Distinction Awards for a decade — an event that has seen tremendous growth.
“It used to be such a small dinner, but it became so big we created new categories,” Kapoor says. “When it became stable, it was time to move on.”
She came full circle when her community efforts were recognized by a Woman of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Kapoor is proud she was the driving force behind a bronze bust of Mahatma Ghandi — a symbol of peace and non-violence — that was brought to Regina from India a year after 9/11.
Her efforts to get a Ghandi statue began a couple of years earlier, but ramped up after the terrorist attacks in September 2001.
It took dozens of phone calls and hours of organizing with the federal and provincial governments, the City of Regina, the Consulate General of India and the Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa before the statue got a permanent home at Regina City Hall.
“I made a trip to India for that, but I really believe in Ghandi’s philosophy,” Kapoor said.
Her retired husband, Don, volunteers in the community and assists with her many projects.
While juggling work and volunteering, the Kapoors raised two children in Regina, Pam and Neil.
In her early 70s, you’d expect Kapoor would be slowing down. But that’s far from the case.
Kapoor is energized by people such as her friend and philanthropist Jacqui Shumiatcher who is in her 90s.
“She’s my mentor,” Kapoor says. “I met her many, many years ago ... She’s an amazing person. Everywhere that I’ve been involved she’s been there for me.”
In the late 1980s, when Kapoor told Shumiatcher at a chance meeting that she was setting up the Regina chapter of Osteoporosis Canada, the philanthropist wrote a cheque for the charity.
“She was a supporter right from that day,” Kapoor said. “I have met so many beautiful people through my volunteer work and so many long-term friendships have been created.”
In 2014 Kapoor was appointed by federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose to the board of directors of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
“They cultivate a lot of knowledge on addictions and drugs — that was really exciting,” Kapoor says. “I really enjoyed that group because it was a continuation of my career ... They really treat people with dignity and respect and that’s important — it doesn’t matter where they’re coming from.”
She’s hoping to be re-appointed to the board.
Meanwhile she’s been flying high since she was named to the board of directors for the Regina Airport Authority last year.
“We have a new CEO and there’s a lot of energy there,” Kapoor says.
Additionally, she’s involved with the Community Foundations of Canada — a movement involving 191 community foundations across the country to inspire community vitality.
Prior to sitting on the national board, she spent six years on the board of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation.
In recognition of the growing multicultural face of Regina, she’s one of 10 organizers of a group called Cultural Connections Regina that started last year.
“Our vision is to help the grassroots charities to become more independent and self-sufficient,” Kapoor says.
“Last year we did a big fundraiser and raised $100,000 for the North Central Family Centre.”
Kapoor is a long-range planner who is spearheading another fundraiser for the centre, which is slated to be held New Year’s Eve.
“We’re going to have a Mardi Gras theme and people will get all dressed up and it will just be a lot of fun,” Wankel said. “Then again, Renu stepped right up ... I’m just really inspired by her. When you think of all of the hours and hours of volunteering she’s put in — it’s just made such a difference to the city of Regina.”
Another major event on Kapoor’s calendar is chairing India Night.
Proceeds from the Sept. 15 fundraiser will go to Ignite Adult Learning Corporation, a non-profit, charitable organization that was founded by Carlo Bizzarri.
“We use a business approach to social issues,” he explains. “What we do here is that we want young people who have had a few setbacks in their growth to be able to retain their dignity and gain the skills they need so in the end, they become independent and self-supporting.
“That’s where the dignity comes from. They don’t want stuff handed to them.”
If Kapoor realizes her goal of raising $100,000 for Ignite, the cash infusion will make a huge difference, Bizzarri says.
“For the last eight years, the reason we’ve been able to function was because of the resources that we get from the private sector,” Wankel says. “Basically, we have to look for investors and this is important. Investors are people who own something that they invest in and they want to see an outcome out of that investment.”
He appreciates that Kapoor is an “extremely dedicated person who makes things happens.”
“This is what is most amazing — in our multifaceted society, immigrants are taking social issues seriously and doing something,” he says. “She’s always doing something.”
The blend of cultures in Canada makes the country very rich, Kapoor says.
“Nowadays there’s so much negative news and it’s a difficult time, so getting involved in the community builds friendship and trust and connections and that’s why I love it,” she says.
In her down time, she heads to her backyard for some relaxation.
“Gardening in the summer is my passion — I just love it!” Kapoor says.
She estimates she’s helped raise more than $2 million for a multitude of charities. Kapoor admits she’s slowing down, but vows she will carry on as long as her health permits.
“If I believe in a cause I feel very passionate about it and then I give myself wholeheartedly,” Kapoor says.
“Celebrating cultures, celebrating friendships is what is important to me.”
Her work has been recognized by numerous awards over the decades including the 2003 Flare Volunteer Lifetime Award.
“That one was a shocker,” Kapoor says.
Other awards include the 2002 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal for her outstanding volunteer contributions to the community, the 2014 President’s Community Award from the University of Regina and the Caring Canadian Award she received from Gov. Gen. David Johnston in 2015.
“You don’t do volunteer work for the awards,” Kapoor said. “You do it because you believe in the cause — it gives you more energy.”