Meeting with Andréanne Meloche, Associate Director, Strategic Campaigns and Major Gifts

Can you tell us what made you choose philanthropy as a career?

At the end of my bachelor’s degree in sociology, I quickly understood that I wanted to get into a field where I could have a meaningful impact. Making a difference in the lives of people in vulnerable situations, especially marginalized groups, was exactly what I was looking for. Philanthropy became a natural conduit: not only can I support essential initiatives, but also mobilize resources and communities around social causes.

You were recently promoted. Can you tell us about your new day-to-day responsibilities and what the new role involves?

Since my promotion to the position of Associate Director – Strategic Campaigns and Major Gifts, my role has expanded, both strategically and operationally.

On a day-to-day basis, I’m responsible for overseeing the development of various strategic campaigns to ensure our donation drives for our services and programs are a success. I also work to identify potential new major donors, reach out to them, and build solid and lasting relationships with them.

What made you choose the Old Brewery Mission, and what aspects of its cause are especially important to you?

The Old Brewery Mission was an easy choice for me. Since 1889, the organization has been recognized as a pioneer in social change, and its impact is tangible, visible and profoundly human.

What is especially important to me is the fact that we don’t just respond to emergencies. Yes, we’re there in critical moments, but most of all we go farther by offering lasting solutions that enable people to steadily rebuild and reintegrate into the community.

This balance between immediate intervention and long-term support is essential, and it’s exactly the type of impact I wanted to have when I got involved in the social sector. I am proud to be part of an organization that really acts to break the cycle of homelessness.

Since your arrival in the organization, has there been any initiative, success story or defining moment that you are particularly proud of?

Since my arrival, the thing I’m most proud of is unquestionably the launch of our new major campaign, Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness. With an ambitious objective of $50 million, we’ve seen the community go all out to mobilize and make a real difference in Montréal.

In a context where homelessness is on the rise, it is clear that we must do more. We must offer more services and multiply rehousing options, for example. With this campaign, we can respond to this reality, by taking meaningful action on our three axes: prevention, emergency services and rehousing.

It’s particularly striking to see just how a collective effort can turn into tangible actions and create a real impact on the people we support every day.

What would you like more people to understand about homelessness and philanthropic work?

I would like more people to realize that no one is completely immune from homelessness. Sometimes all it takes is an unexpected event, the loss of a job, a health problem or a separation for everything to go south. It can happen more quickly than you think.

And neither should we underestimate collective power. When a community pulls together, mobilizes and pushes for change, it can really transform lives. Philanthropy, deep down, is that: a concrete way to help one another and make a real difference, together.