Each year I have the pleasure of sharing the Report on Giving with you: this summary of how your gift, and the donations of many others like you, is strengthening, shaping and focusing our university, and allowing us to achieve things we would otherwise be unable to accomplish.
This past year has been challenging economically. The downturn affected UBC’s endowment and, although there has been a recent market rebound, it has not yet returned to its former value. Despite these economic pressures, UBC has completed the most successful year of fundraising in its history. This success is a clear indication of the strength of our teaching programs and research, and is a testament to outstanding work by our faculty and staff.
In this report you will find stories about significant gifts to UBC in 2008-09. The devotion, insight and innovation of our donors come through clearly in these stories, and I hope you are as inspired by them as I am.
I often speak about the margin of excellence afforded us by donors: the ability you give us to meet the unmet need; to offer the program that everyone wants but the budget can’t afford; to reward more outstanding students and ensure that no student is prevented from attending UBC for financial reasons alone.
Your support has helped UBC to become firmly established as one of the best universities in Canada and among the leading institutions globally. As we look to 2010 and beyond, I am hopeful that the generosity of our donors will continue to fortify everything we do.
Together, we can accomplish amazing things – for our students, province, and world – from here.
Prof. Stephen J. Toope
President and Vice-Chancellor
The University of British Columbia
