Spotlight Story: Tina Chiao from the BC Centre for Ability
Meet Tina, Director of Development & Communications at BC Centre for Ability (BCCFA), where she oversees the Centre’s fundraising, marketing and communications efforts.
BCCFA is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead in the design and delivery of community-based services for persons with diverse abilities. Tina is a parent to two children, one of which has neurodevelopmental disorders, including an intellectual disability and autism. As an employee, Tina has been working at BCCFA for 2.5 years, but as a family, Tina’s son, Andrew, has been a client for about 12 years, first with their Early Intervention program, and now with the Supported Child Development program and Stepping Stones psychosocial program. We had the amazing opportunity to ask her a few questions, read below to learn more about Tina’s story:
What’s your favourite part about your job?
My favourite part of my job is knowing that my work has a direct impact on the lives of our clients and families. Having a child with a disability, I know firsthand how much support and help our family needed when my son was younger, and the support he continues to need now – for him individually and our family as a whole. Without BC Centre for Ability, my son would not have made a lot of the gains he has made and he would not be thriving in the community and in school like he does today. Sometimes fundraising can be difficult, and helping people understand the need and impact of our cause is not always straightforward, but knowing that my efforts will bring in dollars that have a direct impact on someone’s life is really rewarding. I love meeting with people and organizations that share my passion for supporting people with diverse abilities, and hearing about their motivations and desires to “give” can be really inspiring and moving.
What led you to work for a nonprofit organization? What makes it impactful?
This year marks my 20th year as a fundraiser, so I have essentially been working for nonprofits my entire career and I really don’t know anything else. I felt led to work in a non-profit, and particularly BCCFA, because of my personal connection to disability. My son is almost 14 years old and I cannot imagine what life would look like for my son and our family without the services, programs, and support offered by countless nonprofit organizations. Working in a nonprofit is really meaningful work and essentially every role in our organization is a “helping” role. What makes our work impactful is knowing that our entire organization is here to help clients and families make a positive difference in their lives.
Who is the most influential person to you?
My son, Andrew – he was diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, autism and an intellectual disability at the age of 2. He has given me so much and he encourages others without even knowing it. Andrew works harder than anyone I know to accomplish things we all take for granted – printing, dressing, putting shoes on, brushing teeth, the list goes on. The challenge of working through the unexpected, whatever it may be, is both heartbreaking and beautiful and it is always emotional. Some days are really, really hard, but I have become so much more than I ever would have because of Andrew and because of his disability. Andrew has changed my life in many ways and his journey has helped me grow in ways I did not know were even possible. Andrew can teach us all some things – he really lives in the moment and finds pure joy in the simplest things. He will never hold a grudge or hang on to anger, and if he loves you, he doesn’t care if you gain 10 pounds, what kind of car you drive or your credentials; his love is pure and deep. He really motivates me personally and professionally.
What’s a motto you live by?
"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” I really believe in pushing boundaries and limits and never taking no for an answer when it comes to pushing for something you really believe in. This motto has helped me in raising my son and encouraging him to accomplish so much that was never expected.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
It was actually from my boss, our Executive Director, Josh Myers and it is, “Don’t believe everything you think.” This advice has really helped me because, on a day-to-day basis, I often spend a lot of time, mental energy, and angst creating scenarios or worst-case situations in my head for various circumstances. In most cases, the visions and anxiety I manage to brew up in my head are a lot worse than the reality of the situation.
What do you like to do in your spare time outside of work?
I love playing hockey and fishing. In fact, our entire family plays hockey, even our son, who joined an adapted hockey team when he was 8 years old. Hockey is a passion we share as a family and we were so grateful when our son was invited to play in the only adapted hockey team in Vancouver. My husband is a goalie and I play right wing, and just recently, our 11-year-old daughter started playing drop-in hockey with us which means we can play on the same line. Our family also loves fishing together and spend their summers fishing all around Vancouver Island, catching salmon, lingcod, rock cod, halibut, crab and prawns – it is a great way to enjoy the beauty of our province and a sport that can be easily adapted to suit the support needs of our son.
To learn more about Tina and her story with BCCFA, please join us on August 30th for our webinar: Creating 360 Degree Impact with BCCFA and Salesforce.org. To read more about BCCFA’s programs, visit their website, and lastly, to connect with Tina herself, view her LinkedIn profile.
