Western donations top $57M despite challenging year
May 21, 2009
Despite these difficult economic times, Western’s alumni and friends donated close to $57.5 million during the 2008-09 fiscal year – just shy of the $60-million goal. While official year-end figures will not be finalized until the end of June, Associate Vice-President (Development), Grant Stirling, says it is safe to say these preliminary results show the impressive support of Western’s donors, faculty, staff, students and volunteers.
"During this unprecedented economic downturn, Western continues to benefit from the generosity of our dedicated alumni and from the visionary commitment of corporations and foundations who know that an investment in Western will make a difference," he says.
Stirling notes it is gifts of all sizes, from annual donors to major donors, which are critical to Western and its future.
Stirling notes a number of large donations received in 2008/09 will benefit faculties across campus. Some of these include:
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Joseph Rotman (BA’57) made a total commitment of $4 million to establish The Joseph L. Rotman Institute of Science and Values within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Department of Philosophy.
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Katherine Morrison (non-grad) has made a commitment of $1.6 million to support the development of a new graduate program in American Studies in the Faculty of Social Science. The new MA program will be the only graduate program in American Studies in Canada.
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A gift of $1 million from the T.R. Meighen Foundation is supporting the Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion – Western’s first-ever “green building” to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System. A second gift from the Meighen Foundation, of $150,000, has been put towards the renovation of the Talbot Theatre project in recognition of Western President Paul Davenport’s many accomplishments over the 15 years of his leadership at the University.
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Bill Bell (BSc’57, Honours Geology), has donated $1 million to Western’s Department of Earth Sciences to establish a Chair in Petroleum Geology.
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$500,000 from Stephen Dattels (LLB'72) will support a term funded Chair in Corporate Finance Law at the Faculty of Law. The Stephen Dattels Chair in Corporate Finance is the first of its kind in Canada and will serve as the architect of the Natural Resources and Corporate Finance Program.
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Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation has made a commitment of $500K in support of Engineering ($450K) and Education ($50K) to promote two programs designed to spark Canadian students’ interest in science, mathematics and technology.
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Mr. Richard Ivey has donated $500,000 to the Kathleen & Dr. Henry Barnett Chair in Stroke Research at Robarts Research Institute. Mr. Ivey and his late wife, Beryl Ivey, have always been strong supporters of Robarts, from its founding in 1986. This Chair honours Mr. Ivey’s good friends Dr. Henry Barnett and his late wife Kay Barnett.
Stirling says a couple of other major gifts received in 2008/09 will be formally announced in the fall.
"All of us here at Western are grateful for the support we receive from those people and organizations who give in support of the academic mission of the University," adds Stirling.
