Gerard Cappelli knows he’s not supposed to be the one benefiting from volunteering for two organizations that help kids with special needs. It just sort of happened that way.

In addition to Cappelli’s duties as a senior investment advisor in Toronto with Winnipeg-based Wellington West Capital Inc., the financial planner is a director of the Centennial Infant and Child Centre, a facility in Toronto focused on the development and education of young children with developmental challenges, and also on the CICC foundation’s board. The CICC also refers parents of children with various disabilities to a range of support organizations and helps them map out the next steps they should take.

“Having a new child [with a disability] at home, becomes much more complicated than you’re typically used to,” Cappelli says.

Cappelli and his wife, Donna, also play an advocacy role in increasing awareness at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto. One of Canada’s largest centres specializing in children with disabilities, Holland Bloorview pioneers treatments, technologies and “real life” programs that give children with developmental challenges the tools to participate in life. Fundraising is a big part of Cappelli’s work at both places.

“That’s the biggest part,” he says. “There’s always work to be done in that category.”

The driving force behind the Cappellis’ volunteerism is their youngest son, Julian. Now almost 11, Julian was born with cerebral palsy — a condition that affects body movement and muscle co-ordination. In its mildest form, cerebral palsy can result in a slight awkwardness of movement or hand control; in its harshest, it can mean virtually no muscle control, which affects both movement and speech. Through Julian’s treatment, the Cappellis were introduced to both organizations.

When parents receive the news that their child has cerebral palsy or another disability, they are often at a loss regarding what to do next, Cappelli says. He and his wife are grateful for both facilities and the role they have played in helping Julian reach his potential. “The whole focus [elsewhere] is on what can’t be done,” Cappelli says. “These two organizations change the conversation around to what can be achieved.”

Adds Cappelli: “We were lucky that we can play more of a role. A lot of the people we encounter have difficulty getting through the day. If we’re able to contribute, we thought it was important to make sure kids like Julian had an opportunity to be happy, to feel valuable and to feel like there’s something they can achieve.”

Cappelli says the kids he and his wife have gotten to know over the years have added so much to their sense of community. “Children with severe disabilities have a completely different view of the world,” he says. “They bring you to an understanding of what’s important. It touches you. You realize that life is difficult enough for these kids on a day-to-day basis, but they rise up to meet their challenges. It encourages us to be better people.”

Cappelli says the children with special needs aren’t the only ones to benefit: “You realize what you can do and how your efforts are valued. It adds so much more to my appreciation of everything. You think you’re going there for them, but you come out realizing what they’ve done for you.”

Cappelli notes that working in the area is now woven into his family’s schedule. “It’s something that’s part of our family, something we do. There are limitations; people [we work with] understand there are time constraints. But whenever there is an opportunity we can be a part of, we’re definitely there.”

Julian’s older brother, Dante, who turns 12 this year, is an active volunteer as well. “If we’re going to a fundraising event, he’ll play a part,” Cappelli says. “If he can fundraise in his class, he’ll do it. He understands being a volunteer is part of what you do. Life gets busy enough. If you don’t make room for something, there’s always something else you can do.”

In Holland Bloorview’s recent promotional campaign, Julian was front and centre, too — as a model. “He loves it. We find it ironic,” Cappelli says with a laugh, “because he’s used in the promo for the dentistry program — and he hates going to the dentist.” IE