U of T Giving Day: A Temerty Medicine Advancement Team Tradition

On March 28^th, the University of Toronto will celebrate its inaugural Giving Day — a university-wide initiative that seeks to harness the collective power of the U of T community to celebrate donors’ impact.

Although Giving Day is new this year, the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Advancement team has participated annually in a staff giving campaign for almost a decade — raising funds to support important research education at Temerty Medicine and across the university.

“We regularly ask others for their support, so making our own gifts feels particularly meaningful,” says Darina Landa, executive director of advancement at Temerty Medicine and assistant vice president of advancement relations with health care institutions at the University. “It’s a powerful testament to our team members’ belief in Temerty Medicine’s mission and impact, and to the inspirational learners and faculty members with whom we work every day.”

Landa also notes her pride that the annual Advancement staff giving campaigns have always been led by volunteer team members. In 2022, Kashaf Mansoor, a development officer on the Temerty Medicine Advancement team, co-chaired the group effort — achieving 100% participation by Advancement staff for the eighth consecutive year.

“I had just recently joined the team and was inspired to lead the staff giving campaign because I wanted to learn more about the daily why from my colleagues at Temerty Medicine,” says Mansoor, who is a fundraiser on the team. “Colleagues spoke about their personal passions and reasons for giving back. It brought us closer together and was yet another confirmation of our team’s belief in Temerty Medicine’s mission.”

“I give to Temerty Medicine because I am hopeful for the future, despite the challenges we face in health care today,” adds Mansoor. “I have been lucky enough to see the real-world change brought about by Temerty Medicine’s vast network of faculty, staff and learners. The U of T community is my inspiration to give back.”

Mansoor gives to support the Summer Mentorship Program at Temerty Medicine, an initiative that provides high school students of Indigenous or African ancestry the opportunity to explore the health sciences at the University of Toronto.

For Tsukiko Miyata, an alumni relations and events coordinator on the team, as well as a doctoral candidate in medical biophysics, giving to the staff campaign is all about expressing gratitude.

“Giving back to U of T is my way of showing appreciation for the school that gave me the opportunity to grow into who I am today,” says Miyata. “I think we are very privileged to participate in such a rich learning environment, and I am humbled to study and work with some of the most intelligent and creative colleagues, teachers and mentors in the world. I am excited to see the university continuing to do what it does the best — challenging students to build a better future.”

This year, Temerty Medicine Advancement team is aligning the staff giving campaign with U of T’s inaugural Giving Day. While support to any initiative — in any amount — is celebrated, a top priority will be Temerty Medicine’s Giving Day feature fund — the new James and Louise Temerty Building — to which contributions made until March 28^th will be doubled.

“The replacement of the 60-year-old West Wing of the Medical Sciences Building with the new Temerty Building represents a transformative opportunity for the Faculty,” says Landa. “It will be a facility with leading-edge research and education spaces that foster a culture of collaboration and inclusion — where everyone feels welcomed. My colleagues and I are thrilled to be supporting this important project, both as fundraisers and as donors.”