ICYMI - The $40 Million Gift and What It Actually Builds

Simon Fraser University just received a $40 million donation from the Stevens family to support its new medical school, opening this August. Erin Morantz, SFU's Vice-President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, joins to explain what a gift that size actually does — and why the name on the building is the smallest part of the story. The Stevens family has been part of the SFU community for years. During the pandemic they delivered Nature's Path products to make sure students were fed. Their $40 million gift now supports capital construction, research with a focus on prevention and healthy living, student funding, and lectureships — the kind of infrastructure that government grants and tuition alone cannot cover. More than 70% of SFU donors are alumni, and Erin makes the case that alumni show up in ways that go far beyond cheques. She also makes it plain that a five dollar a month contribution to the food security fund helps someone. The scale of the gift changes. The principle behind it doesn't. Topics: SFU medical school, university philanthropy, alumni giving, Stevens family donation, charitable giving Canada GUEST: Erin Morantz | http://give.sfu.ca Originally aired on 2026-06-29