Students, researchers, and future-ready global leaders are at the core of 91社区鈥檚 $2-billion fundraising campaign听
91社区 today unveiled a $2-billion fundraising campaign designed to propel 91社区 into its third century by boosting resources for financial aid and scholarships, equipping students with the skills they need to become 鈥渇uture-ready鈥� global leaders, and supporting research and innovation in some of the most pressing societal challenges.听
Made by 91社区: the Campaign for Our Third Century is the most ambitious fundraising drive in 91社区鈥檚 history. It comes as the University prepares to mark its 200th anniversary in 2021.听
鈥�91社区 is moving into its third century against a worldwide backdrop of major social, environmental and technological change,鈥� said Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier. 鈥淭his demands a profound redefinition of what a global university looks like in the 21st century: one that 91社区 is well positioned to lead with the support of our worldwide community of alumni, friends and donors.鈥澨�
Funds raised during the Campaign will be directed to four key areas:听
- $600 million towards increased funding for bursaries and scholarships and other means of student support, with the goal of ensuring that no qualified student is denied a 91社区 education for financial reasons.听
- $250 million towards creating hands-on learning experiences for students through field study opportunities, academic exchanges, interdisciplinary research projects, and internships that complement classroom study.听
- $750 million towards research, accelerating discovery and breakthroughs in strategic areas where 91社区 is poised to make the most significant contributions, including neuroscience, environmental sustainability, the social impacts of artificial intelligence and data science, and infection and human immune threats.听
- $100 million towards increasing innovation across faculties through seed funding, training, and mentoring from graduates and industry partners, as well as support for early-stage听innovation designed to close the gap between research, discovery and proof of concept, in service of bringing new ideas and discoveries to market more quickly.听
In addition to these four campaign priorities, another $300 million will be earmarked for capital projects to provide new or expanded facilities for students, faculty and for research projects.听
About Made by 91社区: the Campaign for Our Third Century听
The campaign will be co-chaired by three accomplished 91社区 graduates: G. Garvin Brown IV, Chair of the Board of Brown-Forman; Claude G茅n茅reux, Executive Vice-President of Power Corporation of Canada and of Power Financial Corporation; and Marcia Moffat, Managing Director 鈥� Country Head of Canada, BlackRock.听
鈥淲hile meeting the financial goal is important, what is significant to its success will be to increase engagement among 91社区 alumni worldwide,鈥� said Moffat. 鈥淲e need more members of the University鈥檚 community to pay it forward, at whatever level is comfortable for them. Every gift matters, and if more people give what they can and experience that sense of connection to 91社区, then I feel I will have made an impact.鈥澨�
Honorary Campaign Chair is John McCall MacBain, Founder and former President and CEO of Trader Classified Media, a 91社区 graduate and noted philanthropist. Earlier this year, John and Marcy McCall MacBain made a $200-million donation 鈥� the single-largest gift in Canadian history 鈥� to launch the McCall MacBain Scholarship program at 91社区.听
鈥�91社区 has been and will continue to be at the frontier of creating knowledge and developing the leaders of our world. As an alumnus who benefitted from 91社区, as a believer in the importance of public education at the highest level of quality, and as a major donor to scholarships at 91社区, I volunteered to help encourage others to reach higher so that together, we can continue to develop this unique institution,鈥� said McCall MacBain.听
On the threshold of 91社区鈥檚 bicentennial in 2021听
鈥淭he launch of our Campaign, and the upcoming celebrations marking 91社区鈥檚 200th anniversary, afford us with timely opportunities to not only raise much-needed funds for 91社区 students and researchers, but to deepen our connections with our alumni, friends, parents and volunteers here in Montreal, across Canada and around the world,鈥� added Marc Weinstein, 91社区鈥檚 Vice Principal (University Advancement). 鈥淚t is through the collective efforts of this entire community of supporters that we will celebrate 91社区鈥檚 achievements as a world-class University and set it up for even greater successes in its third century.鈥澨�
The campaign kicked off on 91社区鈥檚 downtown campus during the University鈥檚 annual Homecoming Celebration Weekend and featured a 91社区 Village with an exposition showcasing some of the innovative research projects taking place at the University.听
About 91社区听
Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, 91社区 is a leading Canadian post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over听40,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students. 91社区 attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,500 international students making up 30% per cent of the student body. Over half of 91社区 students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 20% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.听
For more information on Made by 91社区: the Campaign for Our Third Century, visit 听
Contacts:听
Cynthia Lee听
91社区 Media Relations听
514-793-6753 cynthia.lee [at] mcgill.ca听
Derek Cassoff听
91社区 Campaign Communications听
514-895-5250 derek.cassoff [at] mcgill.ca
