Foundation gifts
Supporting the next generation
$2 million to boost experiential learning in fine arts
The Doggone Foundation, established by the late Elspeth McConnell, made a $2-million gift to support paid internships for Faculty of Fine Arts students. Combined with a previously announced 2018 gift toward the Elspeth McConnell Fine Arts Awards, the charity’s support to the campaign now totals $2.5 million.
Over nine years, the Doggone Foundation’s gift will fund 40 annual Elspeth McConnell Fine Arts Awards valued at $5,000 each.
An additional $10,000 per year will fund the annual Bill McLennan Northwest Coast Travel Award, named after the late curator emeritus of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The award will allow a full-time graduate student to venture to British Columbia to develop knowledge of Northwest Coast art-making and Indigenous cultures. The recipient will collaborate with researchers and staff at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology — where the Elspeth McConnell Gallery of Northwest Coast Masterworks opened in 2017 — or other organizations.
Paul Marchand, executive director of the Doggone Foundation, says the foundation was pleased to strengthen its Concordia partnership. “Our initial awards, established in honour of Elspeth McConnell, exceeded our expectations in terms of student and community engagement. Providing additional support for internships for promising young practitioners is a meaningful tribute to our benefactor. We are also pleased to be able to honour Bill McLennan’s legacy with a new award.”
The Hewitt Foundation made a gift of $1.173 million to support Concordia youth summer camps and alleviate the cost for underprivileged participants.
The Flanagan Foundation made a gift of $1 million to support Concordia’s Social Justice Centre and its graduate students.
A $1-million gift from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation supports efforts at Concordia to uphold the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A $1-million gift from the Ajram Family Foundation, made by long-time donors Gaby Ajram, BA 71, and Genevieve M. Dabrowski-Ajram, BA 71, in honour of the former’s parents, supported a variety of needs at Concordia.
The Canadian Irish Studies Foundation made a gift of approximately $700,000 to support a permanent, tenure-track appointment in Irish literature at the School of Irish Studies.
The Chamandy Foundation made a gift of $471,033 to support Concordia’s Indigenous Land- Based Education Program, an initiative that fosters Indigenous leadership and community development.
The Engineering and Computer Science Student Association helped fund the acquisition and maintenance of laboratory and computer equipment at the Gina Cody School through a $283,095 gift.
The Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation made a gift of $150,000 to establish the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation Fund at Concordia’s Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling. The gift supports an innovative and multi-channel project to celebrate Jean Paul Riopelle’s life and artistic legacy.
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation made a gift of $150,000 to support the John Molson School of Business.
The Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation made a gift of $150,000 to support research on aging and aging-related disorders led by Vladimir Titorenko in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
The Government of India established the Guru Nanak Dev Ji Academic and Research Initiative at Concordia to honour the founder of Sikhism. Co-funded by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Concordia grad Cuckoo Kochar, MEng 78, the initiative will support a visiting scholar at the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science.
The Zakuta Family Foundation made a gift of $135,000 for students in financial need enrolled in the Real Estate minor program at John Molson.
Two gifts from the Commerce and Administration Students’ Association provided $80,000 to John Molson students in financial need and from historically underrepresented backgrounds.
The Froebel Foundation made a gift of $60,000 to create a new research award for students studying early childhood education in the Department of Education and the Department of Art Education.
The Fondation J.A. DeSève made a gift of $50,000 toward graduate awards at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema.
