Dr. Michael Dan (MD 1984, LLD 2018) and Dr. Amira Dan (MA 2004), who are among Canada’s leading advocates for human rights and social justice, have been named Outstanding Philanthropists for 2021 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Toronto Chapter.
The Dans were co-nominated for the award by the University of Toronto, Indspire, and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR)—three organizations that have proudly partnered with the couple for over a decade to advance their mission to elevate Indigenous voices, address systemic racism impacting Indigenous peoples, and contribute to national reconciliation efforts.
“Michael and Amira Dan are deeply committed to the rights and well-being of Indigenous peoples across Canada, and their support for Indigenous health research at the University of Toronto has been transformational,” says Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto. “This prestigious award is well-deserved recognition of their lifelong dedication to the promotion of equity and justice through philanthropy, and I am thrilled to extend my warmest congratulations to them on behalf of the entire University community.”
Michael, who received his MD from the University of Toronto in 1984 before completing a PhD in experimental medicine at McGill University, and Amira, who received her PhD in Jewish studies from York University, say that the award is an important tool for raising awareness about the power of philanthropy to ignite change.
This prestigious award is well-deserved recognition of lifelong dedication to the promotion of equity and justice
As we work to advance a future of equity and justice for Indigenous peoples in Canada, we remain steadfast in our belief that health and education are at the heart of change
“We are incredibly humbled to be the recipients of this year’s Outstanding Philanthropists Award, which itself shines a light on the unique ability of giving to make a difference in the world,” says Michael.
Michael adds that the couple’s philanthropic support for U of T, Indspire, and CMHR—which are among numerous other beneficiaries of the Dans’ generosity—reflects their deep commitment to leveraging education to help build a more equitable future for people across Canada.
“As we work to advance a future of equity and justice for Indigenous peoples in Canada, we remain steadfast in our belief that health and education are at the heart of change—and that the organizations we are so passionate about supporting are leading real, fundamental change through the power of knowledge and understanding.”
This prestigious award is well-deserved recognition of lifelong dedication to the promotion of equity and justice
As we work to advance a future of equity and justice for Indigenous peoples in Canada, we remain steadfast in our belief that health and education are at the heart of change
With backgrounds in health, science, and academics, the Dans made their first significant investment in U of T in 2009 with the creation of the Michael and Amira Dan Professorship in Global Health.
In 2012, the couple established the Michael and Amira Dan Fellowships in Neurosurgery, followed by the city-wide Michael and Amira Dan Brain Tumour Bank Network at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine in 2013.
In 2014, driven by a desire to help address the critical health needs of Indigenous communities, the couple made a transformational $10-million gift to establish the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.
The world’s first privately endowed research centre dedicated to the health of Indigenous peoples, the Institute works to address the vast impacts of systemic racism on the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples, who continue to face significantly worse health outcomes compared with non-Indigenous individuals.
Through groundbreaking research, education, academic training opportunities, and outreach initiatives, the Institute is focused on building pathways to healing, supporting reconciliation in health care, and creating thriving Indigenous communities in Canada and around the globe.
The Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health is the world’s first privately endowed research centre dedicated to the health of Indigenous peoples
The Dans have been the epitome of smart philanthropy
“The Dans have been the epitome of smart philanthropy. Each time they see a problem, they study it, do their best to understand it, and then put their generosity to work in the smartest possible way,” says Adalsteinn Brown, Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. “Their contributions to improving Indigenous health, global health, and other areas such as eye health all reflect this approach and their impact extends well beyond their generosity.”
In addition to their transformational philanthropy, the Dans also extensively support the University through their volunteering. Michael served on seven senior-level committees over the course of the University’s Boundless campaign, including chairing the Temerty Faculty of Medicine Campaign Cabinet, and is currently a member of the campaign steering committee for U of T’s new Defy Gravity campaign.
At Indspire, a national Indigenous charity committed to advancing the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, the Dans have made significant contributions of time and funding—including helping to launch a new Indigenous Student Emergency Fund to support students struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael has also served as a member of the organization’s board of directors since 2014, and has stepped forward as the first major supporter of Indspire’s inaugural fundraising dinner, Feast in the Forest, scheduled for June 2022.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the first museum in the world dedicated to building awareness and dialogue around human rights, has also profoundly benefited from the Dans’ generosity. In 2003, they were among the first donors to support CMHR’s creation and helped establish the Ceremonial Terrace—a space for reflection and ceremony situated next to the Museum’s Indigenous Perspectives Gallery.
Michael—whose father, Leslie Dan, survived the Holocaust and went on to establish one of Canada’s largest pharmaceutical companies—has previously shared that his family’s own history of persecution directly motivated his desire to advance justice for Indigenous peoples. Writing in Canadian Jewish News at the time of the CMHR’s opening in 2014, he said that “human rights violations and abuses have literally driven my family from one continent to another over the generations.”
Today, grateful for the success they have achieved in the face of hardship, the Dan family is guided by the motto “If you are fortunate, you have to share it.”
The Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health is the world’s first privately endowed research centre dedicated to the health of Indigenous peoples
The Dans have been the epitome of smart philanthropy
The Dans are the latest in a long line of University of Toronto donors who have been named as Outstanding Philanthropists by AFP Greater Toronto Chapter.
With more than 1,200 members, the AFP Greater Toronto Chapter is the largest of AFP’s 240 chapters around the world. It is widely recognized as a global leader in promoting philanthropy and providing education, training, and best practices for those working in the fundraising profession.
We are absolutely thrilled that AFP has recognized the immense contributions of Michael and Amira Dan
“The AFP Greater Toronto Chapter Awards are an important celebration of philanthropy and the Canadians who are empowering change in our world through their giving,” says David Palmer, Vice-President of Advancement at U of T. “We are absolutely thrilled that AFP has recognized the immense contributions of Michael and Amira Dan to the University of Toronto, Indspire, CMHR, and the numerous other causes and organizations they so generously support. Their commitment to realizing the possibilities and impact of philanthropy is an inspiration.”
To learn more about Dr. Michael Dan and Dr. Amira Dan’s extraordinary support for the University of Toronto, please visit their Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors profile.
We are absolutely thrilled that AFP has recognized the immense contributions of Michael and Amira Dan