Happy National Philanthropy Day
Today we celebrate the thousands of donors who have helped shape our university and are paving the way for an even brighter future. From enriching the student experience, to advancing critical research, to strengthening our community, your contributions radiate across campus and beyond. Thank you for your generous support!
Explore giving stories
Donors like you are driving groundbreaking research, exceptional student experiences and positive change at UCalgary and in the community. Read on to see how philanthropy is helping us change lives.
“If we can make every burn survivor’s life just 1% better, it’s everything for us.”
Burn survivors typically face lifelong challenges but Dr. Jeff Biernaskie with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine aims to change that, teaming up with the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society — and a herd of reindeer — to advance cutting-edge research in skin regeneration.
Collective giving adds up to support hundreds of students
Naomi Hewa Wellappulige's grandmother had wanted to be a nurse, but unforeseen circumstances prevented it. That resonated with Naomi and, with help from the Calgary Korean Scholarship Foundation, she was able to complete her degree.
Levelling the playing field for women student-athletes
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser knows the impact of philanthropy. The hockey legend and Dinos alum has seen what it means to a team and how it inspires every corner of the dressing room.
From one-room schoolhouse to big-city campus
The university's Board of Governors chair pays tribute to his late father, a former UCalgary professor, and his lifelong dedication to education with a student award in his name.
The ripple effect of philanthropy
Dick Haskayne, who turns 90 this year, has changed lives well beyond those he’s directly supported at UCalgary and inspired the next generation of business leaders to give back, to embrace kindness and integrity, and to invest in their communities.
Meet the donors
From sports enthusiasts to Dinos alumni to advocates for gender equity, donors to women’s athletics are a passionate group, helping student-athletes excel both in their sport and in the classroom.
OWN.CANCER campaign exceeds $250 million goal
More than 17,000 donors helped support world-leading research, innovation and care at the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary.
Legacy Giving: “I think it is a lifeline”
Brenda Fischer was heart-broken when she lost her son Michael in 2017. To honour his memory, she created an award for UCalgary drama students that recognizes values he held dear: kindness, inclusiveness and compassion.
Class of ’63 rugby player is still in the game
More than 40 years after his time on the varsity team, Doug Sigler still has a soft spot for Dinos rugby. He shows his appreciation by donating annually — and equally — to the women’s and men’s squads.
Improving quality of life for babies with a potentially fatal brain condition
UCalgary Professor of Neurosurgery Dr. Jay Riva-Cambrin is testing a less-invasive treatment for infants with excess fluid buildup in the brain.
Meet the donors
By designating gifts — like a collection of rare bookbinding equipment — to the University of Calgary in their estate plans, these donors’ passions and values will live on and inspire generations to come.
Parents establish law scholarship to honour daughter’s courage
Even from a hospital bed, lawyer Christina Lam managed to command authority. The palliative-care cancer patient wore a wig and sported a blazer with hospital pants as she argued her final case via video conference.
Taking a deep dive into the economy of tourism and experience
More than 30 grad students spent three days in Banff and Canmore painting pottery, touring a firehouse, stacking Jenga blocks and exploring a cave — seemingly just fun and games, but in fact an integral part of the capstone course that concluded their Master of Management education.
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Just as a single spark can ignite a roaring flame, your generosity serves as the catalyst for monumental change here at UCalgary. Each quarter, we’ll bring you stories of the people you empower and impact you make possible — research breakthroughs, innovative technologies, new industries and more.
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