The George Brown College Foundation announced that Toronto business leader Jack Cockwell and the Brookfield Partners Foundation have presented an $8 million gift to the college - not only the largest in George Brown's history but also the largest one-time donation in the 49-year history of Ontario's college system. The gift will support George Brown's future growth, redevelopment and expansion plans in the interest of providing students with state-of-the-art facilities to deliver the technical and people skills that employers seek.
"This generous donation is a vote of confidence in George Brown's contribution to Toronto's economic development and its role in meeting employers' needs," said Anne Sado, President of George Brown College. "Thank you to Jack Cockwell and the Brookfield Partners Foundation for investing in George Brown students for the benefit of our city's future."
In recognition of Brookfield's donation, George Brown will be naming its Waterfront building at the foot of Sherbourne Street the "Daphne Cockwell Centre for Health Sciences." The name honours Jack Cockwell's late mother - a fitting tribute to her career as a nurse. The campus, which opened in 2012 as part of the city's waterfront revitalization, houses the full range of George Brown's Health Sciences programs, including the Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing, the School of Dental Health, the School of Health Services Management and the School of Health & Wellness, as well as the Office of Research and Innovation.
"Having seen firsthand how George Brown's remarkable facilities, faculty and administration help to prepare the next generation of professional leaders and community builders, I am honoured to be playing a role in the future growth that will support George Brown's continued innovation and leadership," said Jack Cockwell, Group Chairman of Brookfield. "It is fulfilling to see my mother's legacy carried forward in the name of a building dedicated to creating the next generation of nurses, dental health professionals, health and wellness workers and others who make invaluable contributions to the population's well-being."
The Brookfield gift supports Success at Work, an ambitious $60 million private sector fundraising campaign to support a $250 million expansion vision for George Brown. This comprehensive, multi-year campaign will raise funds to support student learning and capital growth for George Brown, which has had the highest 10-year increase in total number of first-year domestic students in the province of Ontario.
"Future students will be the true benefactors of this generosity," said Cindy Gouveia, President of the George Brown College Foundation. "Brookfield's gift will help to ensure that more students will have even better learning resources as they pursue their goals."
