Key Takeaways
An anonymous donor gave $100 million to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the largest gift in its history.
The foundation says it is the largest donation ever made toward cancer in Canadian history.
The gift anchors Carry The Fire, a $2.5 billion campaign launched September 22 in Toronto.
An anonymous donor has given $100 million to The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in Toronto. It is the largest gift the foundation has ever received and, according to the foundation, the largest donation ever made toward cancer in Canadian history.
A record gift from a donor who stayed unnamed
The gift was announced September 22 with the launch of Carry The Fire, a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign the foundation calls the largest cancer campaign in Canadian history. The donor has a personal connection to cancer and has not been identified. CTV News reported that the foundation shared no details beyond saying the donor believes in Princess Margaret's vision.
The gift is flexible. It goes to the cancer centre's highest-priority needs across research, education and care, which lets the hospital put money behind breakthroughs as they happen instead of waiting on a grant cycle.
What the $2.5 billion campaign will fund
Carry The Fire targets three areas. Stage 0 focuses on catching cancer at its earliest stages. Beyond Chemotherapy funds precision medicine, immunotherapy, theranostics, genomics and AI-enabled care. Boundless Cancer Care covers survivorship, rehabilitation and mental health support. Princess Margaret, part of University Health Network, works across more than 200 cancer types.
"Now is the moment to come together," said Dr. Miyo Yamashita, president and CEO of the foundation.
The most notable part of this is how quiet the money is. It follows two other gifts WYDE covered this month where the givers kept a low profile, when an anonymous Connecticut family gave Americares a record $50 million and when Jim Balsillie's family foundation, long an anonymous supporter, gave $4.5 million to Ontario food banks.
People Also Ask
Who gave $100 million to the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation?
The donor is anonymous. The foundation says only that the person has a personal connection to cancer.
Is this the largest cancer donation in Canada?
Yes. The foundation says it is the largest donation ever made toward cancer in Canadian history.
What is the Carry The Fire campaign?
It is a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign for Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, focused on early detection, new treatments beyond chemotherapy, and patient support.
How will the $100 million be used?
It will support the centre's highest-priority needs across research, education and care.