Every Dollar, Forever: The Story Behind the Farwell4Hire Fund
When Mike Farwell and his wife Jen first dreamed of creating a fund that would permanently support families living with cystic fibrosis in Waterloo Region, the barrier to entry stopped them cold. The cost of setting up that kind of lasting legacy was simply out of reach.
That's changed — and the story of how it changed is worth understanding.
In this conversation, Mike sits down with Dan Robert, Director, Philanthropy at Waterloo Region Community Foundation, to pull back the curtain on the engine behind the Farwell4Hire Fund. Dan explains how community foundations work, who they're for (spoiler: everyone), and why the "in perpetuity" model is such a powerful idea.
The numbers are striking. Since the Farwell4Hire Fund was established in April 2020, supporters have donated over $760,000. The fund has already granted $275,000 back to cystic fibrosis causes — while still holding a balance of over $620,000 that continues to grow and generate returns. Last year alone, the fund's investments produced $26,000 for the local Cystic Fibrosis KW chapter.
That's the point of this conversation: every dollar donated doesn't just help once. It keeps helping, year after year, long after the campaign wraps up.
Whether you're curious about where your donation actually goes, or you've ever thought about setting up a fund of your own, this is a great listen.
Hit play below — and if it sparks something, reach out to Dan at dan@wrcf.ca or 519-725-1806 × 205.
This interview originally aired on The Mike Farwell Show on June 16, 2026. Click here to listen to the full interview at kitchener.citynews.ca/audio/the-mike-farwell-show – just scroll down to June 16, 2026 and hit play.