The picture of generosity

But Kerba’s real pride lies in what he has done with his photography skills in helping charitable organizations.

“I don’t necessarily like to write a cheque to any charity,” Kerba says. “To me, it’s cold. So, what I like to do is leverage my ability to do something more.”

Thus, he became involved with what is now the Riverwood Conservancy, a local environmental charity dedicated to protecting a tract of land along the Credit River, by taking photos – primarily, of various seasonal flowers. Kerba has printed some of these, along with photos of an Inukshuk in Red Boat Lake, Ont., winter photographs snapped in Serpent River, Ont., waterfalls in Buttermilk Falls State Park in New York – along with many others from his travels – primarily for use with his clients.

But Kerba also ensures there’s an extra copy of his pictures that he can donate to a charitable organization. He has donated 750 cards and envelopes, plus prints and limited-edition prints, to Riverwood, which then sold them to raise funds. More recently, the relationship with Riverwood has evolved into a sponsorship.

Kerba’s work was noticed by Mississauga Quarterly magazine, which asked him to take other photos. These images were published in the magazine and caught the attention of Maggie Bras, head of the Robert and Maggie Bras new drug development program at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital.

Bras was making a donation to Gilda’s Club, a cancer-patient support organization named after the late improv comedienne Gilda Radner.

Kerba had taken some family photographs for Bras, who then suggested Kerba take photos of Gilda’s Club events, including the annual variety show. Kerba donated his time as event photographer, then donated the photos he took at the event.

Kerba’s participation expanded into an auction of his prints in 2010, which raised $4,500 for Gilda’s Club. He continues to take photos at the Gilda’s Club autumn fundraising event.

“Everything happens for a reason,” Kerba says of this chain of events. “And I’m not smart enough to figure out what that reason is.”

Kerba also gives his time to Scouts Canada. Having been a Scout himself as a child, he took various leadership programs and realized the organization required a better way to raise funds than the traditional car wash.

For the past 18 years, Kerba has sponsored a Scouts euchre tournament held in the basement of Erin Mills United Church. The tournament has raised more than $35,000 for the Scouts Camp. “That’s 7,000 cars the boys and girls don’t have to wash,” Kerba says. For his work, he recently received a special medal from Scouts Canada.

Kerba says charity has always been a part of his life. “I’ve always felt that I have been really fortunate and blessed. The harder I work, the more I have,” he says. “I’m one of those financial planners who don’t care one iota about the almighty dollar – it’s about the journey.”

Kerba picked up a camera in 1969 and has kept snapping photos since. He majored in photography in college and spent 25 years in the retail industry before joining AFP Money Strategy, which later became part of IPC, as an advisor.

Kerba and Donna, his wife of 37 years, have travelled all around the world. Kerba’s camera is, he says with a wry smile, “my mistress. I take her everywhere.”

Kerba’s dream is to hold a charitable event simultaneously in 15 cities. The event at each venue would be hosted by a financial advisor who would pick his or her favourite charity to be the recipient of the fundraiser. Kerba would be willing to donate some of his photos to the other advisors, who then would give that money to charity.

“None of this has been designed to bring clients on board,” Kerba says. “It’s all been to support charities.”

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