Ruby Million Match helps women fleeing abusive relationships with microloans

The gift, dubbed the Ruby Million Match, was officially announced at the YWCA Toronto’s downtown Toronto location Thursday, Dec. 4 in honour of the longtime YWCA volunteer.

"When she retired from (military) service overseas in 1946, she came to the YWCA and started a six-decade long career here," said Jan Ruby. "The Y was, by far, the most important thing in her life apart from her family. She did everything here from sitting at the head of the long table (as president of the board) to screwing in lightbulbs."

While she did not have the capacity to help out as much later in life as she did as a younger woman, Julia Ruby remained close to the organization virtually right up until her death in 2006 at the age of 89.

Her daughters’ donation will see the next $1 million donated to the YWCA’s December 6 Fund matched.

"This fund is a glove fit for what my parents would have wanted," Jan Ruby said. "At the core of everything she did, my mother wanted to make sure every woman was safe."

The fund has helped roughly 1,300 women as they have taken the brave but crucial steps needed to leave violent relationships. Founded in 1994 by a small group jolted into action by the Montreal Massacre, where 28 people, mostly women, were shot at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec on Dec. 6, 1989, the fund was eventually placed under the auspices of YWCA Toronto.

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"It had been a standalone thing, but (the founders) didn’t have the same kind of infrastructure we have here to support it," said YWCA Toronto CEO Heather McGregor.

The fund had made an immense difference in the lives of women such as Phyllis John, who accessed a microloan as a single mom when she had trouble making rent after ending a long-term relationship in which she faced physical and verbal abuse.

"I was struggling to deal with the financial impact (of leaving)," John said. "Having the fund available to me was a godsend. It allowed me and my children to be housed."

She acknowledged that financial concerns can weigh heavily on women when they are looking to leave violent situations, particularly if they have children. The December 6 Fund gives them a boost as they make the transition to safer living arrangements. Recipients are also given leeway when it comes to repayment.

"There’s a window period where you inform them if you’re unable to make a payment for whatever reason," John said.

Still, the microloans have an extremely high rate of repayment, due in part to the fact that the women who receive them realize the money will go toward helping other women in need.

The Ruby daughters’ $1 million matching donation will also go a long way toward ensuring as many women as possible can access the help they need.

"We would like to be able to – and now we will be able to – provide more loans, more counselling and more support," McGregor said.

To contribute to the Ruby Million Match, visit www.ywcatoronto.org