Statement made on 16 February 2011 by Senator Frank Mahovlich
Hon. Francis William Mahovlich:
Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who has dedicated his later years to making tremendous contributions not only to the people of Toronto and Canada, but indeed to the whole world. Terrence Donnelly is a man who has worked hard his whole life and has chosen to give away much of his fortune for the benefit of others.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, he attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a degree in business administration. While attending Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, he was introduced to an unconventional businessman by the name of Colonel Harland Sanders, whom we all know as the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The two worked together until Mr. Sanders' death in 1980, with Mr. Donnelly serving on the board of directors of KFC, in addition to helping the franchise chain expand from 50 restaurants to 750.
Today, he continues to work as a director for the Colonel Harland Sanders Charitable Organization, a charity that provides development assistance funds to various children's hospital projects across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
When Mr. Donnelly finally retired in 1997, he was unsure what to do with his time. A short while later, he was introduced to health care philanthropy, which has since become his life's calling. It has become his legacy.
His first substantial donation was given to St. Michael's Hospital to build research labs and restore a rundown part of the hospital. He later donated funds to help build a Centre for Cellular and Biomedical Research at the University of Toronto. At the beginning of February, it was announced he would give another $12 million to help build a health science complex at the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus, where the medical doctors of tomorrow will be trained. His generous gift was the largest ever made to the Mississauga campus.
For all his generosity and support in making a difference in health care, he has been named to the Order of Ontario and has received an honorary doctor of law from the University of Toronto.
More than awards and accolades, however, he has become an inspiration to the students and faculty of these facilities. Even after he gives his financial contribution, he chooses to be part of the new and exciting changes going on at these locations by getting to know the research staff at the Centre for Cellular and Biomedical Research or by visiting the patients at St. Michael's Hospital. Terrence Donnelly has said that he gets tremendous joy out of giving and in watching his donations hard at work.
In the words of the dean of the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine, "He lives his contribution," which is something we should all aspire to.