Taking the 12th Step: Fraser’s Legacy 

Why Fraser made a legacy gift to The Ottawa Mission, in his own words:

I’ve been thinking about leaving a gift in my will to a charity I know, trust, and care about for years now.

I decided to leave my charitable bequest to The Ottawa Mission’s addiction recovery program. Early in my life, I suffered through years of active alcoholism, and it took me years of trying to finally achieve sobriety. I want to use my bequest to help people who have lost everything to their addiction, and give them the chance to get their lives back, the way I had.

Even at the worst of my addiction, I had a successful career, a home, and family and friends who loved and supported me. I can’t imagine how much courage it must take to face your addiction when you don’t have those supports, or even a hot meal and a warm bed.

In making this gift, I feel a deep satisfaction that I’ve done something truly meaningful to help people who suffer with active addiction.

In the 12-step program of addiction recovery, the first 11 steps are about becoming sober. The 12^th step is helping someone with an active addiction find their own path to recovery. With my legacy gift, I feel I’ve taken a big 12^th step.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to do this.