Retired paramedic launches permanent Ukraine aid fund
Surrey man opens Canadian Ukraine Economic Defence Fund seeking $20 million in phase one to generate ongoing humanitarian and defence support.
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Will Rogers, a retired paramedic from Surrey's Cloverdale neighbourhood, has launched an investment fund aimed at channelling permanent support to Ukraine while building domestic capacity for Canadian projects.
The Canadian Ukraine Economic Defence Fund (CUEDF), opened with Rothdale Pacific Wealth Management, represents Rogers's response to repeated humanitarian crises he witnessed firsthand. Over the past four years, Rogers has made five trips to Ukraine delivering aid and medical supplies with Frontline Medics, a California-based group operating near combat zones. He has personally invested over $110,000 supporting the effort.
"I have personally invested over $110,000 of my own money into supporting Ukraine," Rogers said. "The last time I was overseas, one of my fellow volunteer medics had been killed the day before I arrived. She was the fourth medic to be killed with Frontline Medics."
In another incident, a medic's body blocked a blast from an anti-tank missile that hit their ambulance, saving two others. Rogers had ridden in that same ambulance four months earlier.
Unlike one-time donations, CUEDF is designed to generate lasting returns. Rogers recently sold his house and invested the proceeds in the fund. He's asking Canadians to contribute $100 each in Phase 1, with a goal of raising commitments from 200,000 people. Crucially, no contributions from the general public will be spent — only the investment returns are used.
"Only the returns are used to support Ukraine with Canadian products and services," Rogers explained. "The fund itself is never depleted. The donated money is frozen in the investment account forever. The only money that's spent is the money it earns."
Phase 2 targets $1,000 per Canadian donor, aiming to raise $41 billion. Phase 3 will appeal to North Americans; Phase 4 will go international.
Money will be spent on defence assistance and humanitarian support using Canadian products and services. Rogers said the fund will eventually redirect earnings back to Canada for education, infrastructure, and social programs once the war ends. CUEDF is not yet a registered charity but Rogers is exploring structures to eventually offer tax-deductible donations.