The York University Foundation yesterday announced major donations as it launched an unprecedented fundraising campaign that aims to raise $200 million leading up to the University's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2009.
"The campaign will celebrate York's first 50 years of achievement as well as our generous donors and volunteers who have played such a major role in helping us redefine the possible," said Paul Marcus, president & CEO of the York University Foundation.
The "York to the Power of 50" campaign has already secured considerable support and was further strengthened by 
major gift announcements at last night's kick-off gala for outside friends of York. The campaign will be launched to the internal York community at a celebration tomorrow at 1:30pm in the Scott Library, second floor (see invitation).
In all, close to 30 gifts of $1 million or more launched the campaign, backed by the support of thousands of donors.
Right: Avie Bennett
Recognizing the many unique talents of York students, York University Chancellor Emeritus Avie Bennett made a leadership gift for undergraduate and graduate awards and scholarships to exist in perpetuity for the benefit of more than 30 students each year.
The dedicated, high-profile leaders who participated included campaign co-chairs William Hatanaka, chairman & CEO of TD Waterhouse, and Timothy Price, Chair of Brookfield Asset Management. A growing group of York alumni dubbed the "50 to the Power of 50" team also were introduced as ambassadors for the campaign in the community (see list below). Each team member uniquely demonstrates how York graduates are making a difference in the world around us.
Among the other gifts, the Honey and Barry Sherman family very generously made a $5 million commitment last night to be designated for the renovation and refurbishment of a building which will provide much-needed research space and create a state-of-the-art facility. Honey Sherman is a member of the board of the York University Foundation.
Right: Honey Sherman
"The Sherman Family gift is very important. Enhancing our research facilities is vital, as research is the number one priority for York University," said Stan Shapson, York vice-president of research & innovation.
Professor John Tsotsos, director of the world-renowned Centre for Vision Research at York University, added: "This will allow York to retain and attract world-class researchers in the continuance of their leading-edge work."
Left: John Tsotsos
Marcus also paid tribute to philanthropist Seymour Schulich, who has given a total of $27 million to York over the years and transformed the University with his gift to create the Schulich School of Business. More recently, thanks to another major gift from the philanthropist, "this connection was literally set in stone with the magnificent 
new home for the school, the Seymour Schulich Building," said Marcus.
Right: Seymour Schulich
"York to the Power of 50" kicked off at the BMW Toronto Centre last night with York alumna and CTV news anchor Sandie Rinaldo (BA '73) hosting the evening's festivities, which featured a variety of other York alumni.
Those performing included Juno-nominated crooner Matt Dusk (BFA '02), and Line 1 – choreographed by Emmy-winner Debra Brown (BFA '78) of Cirque du Soleil fame – who combined a unique mix of music, dance and circus artistry into an amazing spectacle.
The "50 to the Power of 50" team
This growing group of York alumni will be capped at 50 ambassadors.
Name | Title | York Degree |
Isabel Bassett | Chair, Library Advisory Committee, York University | MA '73, LLD '01 (Hon.) |
William Boyle | CEO & General Manager, Harbourfront Corp. | BA '69, MA '71 |
Debra Brown | Choreographer, Cirque du Soleil | BFA '78 |
Barbara Budd | CBC Radio co-host As It Happens | BA '74 |
Joel Cohen | Producer, "The Simpsons", Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. | MBA '92 |
William Dimma | Chairman, Home Capital Group | MBA '69, LLD '98 (Hon.) |
Matt Dusk | Singer and actor | BFA '02 |
Ivan Fecan | President & CEO, Bell Globemedia Inc.; CEO, CTV Inc. | BA '01 |
Margot Franssen | President & CEO, Accessorize Canada | BA '79 |
Jian Ghomeshi | Broadcaster, CBC | BA '95 |
Mitchell Goldhar | President & CEO, SmartCentres | BA '85 |
Edward Greenspan | Partner, Greenspan, White | LLB '68 |
| Ethel Harris | The Milton & Ethel Harris Research Initiative, York University | MA '73 |
Chantal Hébert | Journalist and television commentator, The Toronto Star, Le Devoir, CBC | BA '76 |
Jay Hennick | President & CEO, FirstService Corporation | BA '78 |
Jennifer Ivey Bannock | Vice-President, Ivey Foundation | BFA '76 |
Ellis Jacob | President & CEO, Cineplex Entertainment | MBA '76 |
Farouk Jiwa | Agribusiness Sector Specialist, Private Sector Development, CARE Canada | MES '03 |
Robert Krembil | Chief Executive Officer, Chiefswood Investors Ltd. | MBA '71, LLD '00 (Hon.) |
Armand La Barge | Chief of Police, York Regional Police Force | BA '95 |
Stephanie Ling | Principal, Children's Primary Centre/ | BA '85, MEd "02 |
Steve MacLean | Astronaut, Canadian Space Agency | BSc '77, PhD '83, DSc '93 (Hon.) |
Douglas Mahaffy | Chairman, President & CEO, McLean Budden Limited | BA '66, MBA '71 |
Jonathan Mann | Television Anchor, CNN International | BA '80 |
Robert McEwen | Chairman & CEO, McEwen Capital & US Gold Corp. | MBA '78, LLD '05 |
Sandie Rinaldo | Weekend news anchor and co-host, "W-Five", CTV | BA '73 |
Clayton Ruby | Senior lawyer and partner, Ruby & Edwardh | BA '63 |
Chandra Siddan | Founder, Regent Park Film Festival | BEd '03 |
Kanhai (Ken) Singh | President, Atlas International Freight Forwarding Inc. | BA '79, BA '81 |
Irvin Studin | Rhodes Scholar and author | BBA '99 |
Paul Tsaparis | President & CEO, Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. | MBA '84 |
Rick Waugh | President & CEO, Scotiabank | MBA '74 |