2009 Volunteers of the Year: Greg Foster

The country has come a long way from the days when an HIV/AIDS diagnosis caused fear of handshakes and hugs, but Greg Foster believes the stigma remains. That’s one reason he’s gone from cooking a few meals a month at Clare House to serving as board president. In that time, Clare House has grown from an organization housing four people living with HIV/AIDS to one that serves 120 people and is on its way to serving 200. Foster, a vice president and financial consultant with RBC Wealth Management, helped it get there by overseeing the consolidation of six area shelters under the Clare Housing brand. He also helped found the Friends Dining with Friends events. Instead of one large gala, supporters volunteer to host small dinner parties, which range from pizza parties held in college apartments to private cooking lessons with area chefs that go for $500 a head. The intimate events have raised a half million dollars, but Foster expects they also raise awareness and hope. “When you are really passionate about your mission, it is difficult not to excite your friends,” he says.