Franco has been a volunteer with Tel-Aide Montréal since December 2025. His commitment to giving back began early in life. As a teenager, he was already volunteering: something his father deeply valued and passed on to him. Some of his earliest memories involve Christmas toy drives, and over the years, service to the community became a natural, essential part of who he is.

After spending three decades in Philadelphia working in finance and managing large teams of up to 250 people, he made it a point to introduce volunteerism to his employees through team‑building activities, hoping to spark in others the same sense of purpose he feels. Two years ago, he returned to Montreal, heard about Tel-Aide during an interview on CJAD radio, and immediately felt drawn to the mission.

Now retired as of January 2025, Franco devotes much of his time to supporting others. In addition to Tel-Aide Montréal, he volunteers at the Saint‑Antoine 50+ Community Centre and the Tyndale St‑Georges Community Centre, and he’s even considering adding Welcome Hall Mission to his growing list of commitments. Wherever Tel-Aide needs him, he’s there: fully present and ready to help. In addition to listening, Franco has recently joined the outreach committee to help promote Tel-Aide Montréal’s services in the community.

What Franco loves most about volunteering with TAM is the one‑on‑one connection that sets it apart from other volunteer roles.

For him, nothing compares to hearing someone say at the end of a call: “Thank you, I feel much better.”

One call in particular has stayed with him

During one of his first calls, he spoke with a woman who was overwhelmed and reliving the trauma of a past car accident: a trauma she says she relives every year during the first snowfall in Montreal. She was panicked and struggling to breathe, possibly having a panic attack. Through patient conversation, grounding techniques, and gentle support, she gradually regained control and even made a plan for how to take care of herself. The transformation from paralysis to clarity left a profound impact on him.

Although Franco expected meaningful conversations, he didn’t anticipate how quickly deep empathy and emotional connection can form, especially with callers in crisis. Tel-Aide Montréal has strengthened his patience, his listening skills, and his ability to understand rather than advise: skills he says would have been invaluable during his career in finance. Volunteering has always been another pillar of his life, something as natural and essential as work once was. It fuels his personal growth, helps enrichen his relationships, and greatly enhances his authentic conversation skills. He carries what he learns from every call into his everyday life.

Of all the volunteer roles he’s taken on over the years, Tel-Aide Montréal stands out as the most rewarding and the most humbling. He describes Tel-Aide as the most professional and dedicated team he has ever worked with, and he’s proud to be part of it.