I was born and raised in apartheid-era South Africa, in a family whose story began long before me. Both sets of my grandparents arrived in South Africa at the turn of the century as refugees fleeing violent persecution in Eastern Europe. Their courage, and the new life they built from nothing, shaped my understanding of justice, dignity, and responsibility from an early age. I grew up with the knowledge that my family’s survival was only possible because others opened their doors. That legacy has guided every major decision of my life.

As a young man, I witnessed first hand the depravity of apartheid. Conscription into the South African police force was a profoundly politicising experience: I saw how prejudice could destroy a life before it ever truly began. I did what little I could to resist – helping political detainees communicate, refusing to participate in unjust arrests, and working quietly with activists and journalists to expose abuses. Those experiences motivated me to chair two anti-apartheid organisations in the 1980s and ultimately led me to support Nelson Mandela’s efforts to build a free and fair South Africa, later serving, at his request, on the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust.

My career in business has been defined by the same conviction that opportunity should never be determined by the circumstances of your birth. When I joined Belron in 1991 (the world’s largest automotive glass repair and replacement company, operating under brands such as Safelite, Carglass, Autoglass, O’Brien, and Speedy) and later during my 23 years as CEO, I worked to embed a culture where commercial success and social responsibility reinforced each other. I am proud that Belron grew across 38 countries, but even more proud of the values woven into that growth – our charitable foundation, the millions donated to communities, and the Belron Thank You, through which senior leaders gave up shares in the business to deliver a meaningful windfall to around 26,000 of our employees worldwide.

After stepping down as CEO, I established the This Day Foundation to devote the next chapter of my life to philanthropy full time. I plan to give away at least 95 per cent of my wealth to create a fairer future for young people. My children, who each serve society in their own careers, have been the strongest inspiration behind this commitment. They have encouraged me to use my fortunate position to help those who, through no fault of their own, face systemic barriers to opportunity.

This Day focuses on work in both the UK and South Africa, supporting organisations that are addressing early childhood development, youth unemployment, education inequality, and the marginalisation of refugees and asylum seekers. We are also involved in supporting organisations that are building strong communities, as well as supporting a number of social justice initiatives.  Our grants always include leadership development, because lasting change requires both resources and people with the skills to drive transformation from within their communities. My philanthropy is rooted in a simple belief, that nobody should be denied a future because of where they come from. I have seen how prejudice, desperation, and lack of opportunity can fracture a society. But I have also seen, through my work and through the examples of people like Nelson Mandela, how compassion and courage can restore hope.

The fortune I have accumulated is far larger than anyone should reasonably expect in a fair society. I have been fortunate in life, through timing, through opportunity, through family, and through the support of others. I now have the privilege and responsibility to pass that forward. By taking the Giving Pledge, I am formalising what has long been my intention: to give away the overwhelming majority of my wealth during my lifetime, and to use it to expand opportunity for those who have been overlooked, excluded, or displaced. I want my legacy to be measured not in financial terms, but in the futures made possible for young people who simply need the chance my grandparents were given nearly a century ago.

Every child, every young person, deserves the opportunity to choose hope over hate; dignity over division; possibility over prejudice. My life has taught me that fairness does not happen by accident, it is built intentionally, generation by generation. I am committed to doing my part.

Gary Lubner