Inaugural Defy Gravity Volunteer Summit: An historic gathering at U of T
May 15, 2025
Left to right: Campaign co-chairs Claire Kennedy and John Cassaday, campaign steering committee member Eva Lau and Chancellor Wes Hall on stage at the inaugural Defy Gravity Volunteer Summit. Photo by Taylor Long.
On May 5, the University of Toronto held its first-ever Defy Gravity campaign volunteer summit at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, hosted by the campaign’s co-chairs. The banner event brought together 130 attendees from almost all U of T faculties and colleges, Chancellor Wes Hall, President Meric Gertler, campaign steering committee members, fundraising volunteers, deans, principals, academic leaders, staff and other volunteer leadership groups.
President Meric Gertler described the summit as an “historic gathering,” highlighting the vital collaboration between volunteers, academics and advancement staff. “Volunteers are essential to the university’s mission, bringing people together, making important connections and advocating for support and funding,” he said. “They are often our most generous and steadfast donors. In fact, gifts from volunteers represent almost 30 per cent of Defy Gravity campaign giving.”
The power of community engagement and impact
The program began with opening remarks from campaign co-chair John Cassaday, followed by a welcome address from President Gertler, in which he acknowledged the impressive $611 million contributed by the fundraising volunteer groups represented at the event and the more than 23,000 volunteers and mentors who contribute their time and talent.
Volunteers are essential to the university’s mission, bringing people together, making important connections and advocating for support and funding
Claire Kennedy, a campaign co-chair, moderated a panel featuring John Cassaday, campaign steering committee member Eva Lau and Chancellor Wes Hall. Their conversation emphasized the power of peer-led fundraising and its potential to further advance the campaign. Kennedy also shared insights from her own experience. “What surprised me over the years is how many opportunities exist to grow as a volunteer and deepen your impact, often in unexpected ways,” she said.
Volunteers are essential to the university’s mission, bringing people together, making important connections and advocating for support and funding
Campaign co-chair Som Seif hosted a session on Major Campaign Initiatives, where leaders presented compelling pitches on key initiatives aligned with Defy Gravity’s values. Presenters included Professor Milos Popovic, Director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering – a multidisciplinary research community of investigators from engineering, medicine and dentistry; Jon French, Director, University of Toronto Entrepreneurship, and Vishar Yaghoubian, CEO and co-founder of Toothpod; and Professor Joseph Wong, U of T’s Vice-President, International, who spoke about his work as a founder of the Reach Alliance.
Left to right: Campaign co-chairs Som Seif, Brian Lawson and John Cassaday with campaign steering committee member Eva Lau and David Palmer, vice-president, advancement. Photo by Taylor Long.
Developing our future leaders
Brian Lawson, campaign co-chair, wrapped up the event. His comments emphasized the importance of investing in U of T to help build Canada’s future in an era when nation building has become more important than ever. “It’s about fuelling the research that will push the frontiers of knowledge,” he said. “That knowledge will power innovations so that Canada has what it needs to prosper within its borders and that will give the country a finely honed competitive edge on the world stage.”
The Defy Gravity Volunteer Summit not only demonstrated the power of volunteerism but also set the stage for future collaborations that will continue to propel the University of Toronto towards its ambitious goals in engagement and financial support.
