Volunteer Leadership Profile—Harvey Dales

Businessman and philanthropist, Harvey Dales, has over two decades of volunteer experience in the Jewish community. However, it was on a Jewish Federation mission seven years ago that Harvey was inspired to get involved with Jewish Federation directly. “Prior to that, I thought, I’m an adult, I can allocate my philanthropic funds independently,” he shares. “But as my wife and I started going on missions to Poland, Ethiopia, Israel, and the former Soviet Union, we saw the number of people who were touched through Federation who we would never have the ability to help independently.”

Leading By Example
Harvey recently served as Federation Annual Campaign Chair and as past trustee of the Jewish Community Foundation Board. He has also been Annual Campaign’s Major Gifts Chair and a Jewish Federation board member.

As Federation Annual Campaign Chair, Harvey led our community to raise a record $8 million dollars for local and international Jewish needs. Harvey guided the campaign working cabinet as they set goals for fundraising and all other aspects of the campaign. His foresight has ensured that we are developing new leaders who will continue to grow the campaign. Harvey’s forte is leading by example, and in that way he was the initiating force for all campaign activities.

In addition to Jewish Federation, Harvey devotes his time to many other causes throughout the Jewish community. He is treasurer of the Vancouver Talmud Torah Foundation, on the board of governors for the Jewish Community Centre, Pacific Torah Institute, Community Kollel and Yad Vashem Canada, and is involved with the Jewish National Fund of Canada on their national board of directors, as their national chair of foundations, and as a past president of their Pacific Region. In fact, it’s difficult to find a worthy cause Harvey is not involved with! He has also, together with his wife, Jody, co-chaired the successful King David High School capital campaign, as well as the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre Society’s 10th anniversary campaign.

Seeing the Fruits of His Labour
For Harvey, volunteering with Jewish Federation is intensely meaningful. “I’m impacted by being able to help those in need in our local community, in Israel, and overseas. On trips with Jewish Federation to the former Soviet Union, I saw people virtually destitute. They literally survive based on Federation contributions. I volunteer because I can physically see our work meeting needs on the ground.”

In terms of continuing to volunteer now that his campaign term is over, Harvey laughs, “I am already committed to canvassing for next year, so I will be with Jewish Federation for some time.”