News > 2008 > Launch of the 2008-2009 Fundraising Campaign

Launch of the 2008-2009 Fundraising Campaign

October 16, 2008

The 2008-2009 annual HEC Montréal fundraising campaign got off to a great start on October 15. The goal of this year’s campaign, co-chaired by Chantal Tellier, Vice-President, Business Development, with Sipromac, and Laurent Lapierre, holder of the Pierre Péladeau Chair in Leadership, is $4.5 million.

Jacques Nantel, Secretary General of HEC Montréal, took the opportunity to announce the creation of the J.-Denis Duquette Scholarship Program and Fund, a tribute to an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to the School’s international presence and the remarkable growth in financial assistance available for students. “The Fund,” he noted, “will allow us to make sure that our community continues to draw inspiration from the values and energy of a man who has brought us so much.“

J.-Denis Duquette, flanked by Director Michel Patry (left) and Secretary General Jacques Nantel.

 

Mr. Duquette was Secretary General of the School from 1971 to 1995, during which time he played a key role in establishing and developing different scholarship programs. He was the driving force behind a series of agreements with universities around the world, which eventually led to our prestigious Passport to the World international exchange program.

The goal of the J.-Denis Duquette Scholarship Program is to attract top students by offering admission scholarships. It will consist of personalized endowment funds from different donors, who will each agree to set up a fund of $50,000 or more, and the J.-Denis Duquette Fund, which will be maintained through contributions by many different donors and the proceeds of benefit events organized by the School.

Another highlight of the launch ceremony was the announcement of a major donation of $350,000 from KPMG, which over the next five years will fund a scholarship program for students enrolled in programs with an accounting or taxation specialization or option. “This commitment by KPMG illustrates the importance for us of developing the next generation, and of supporting HEC Montréal, the alma mater of many of our firm’s past, present and future members,” emphasized Laurent Giguère, FCA, a partner in the firm in Montreal. “We consider HEC Montréal one of the finest sources of young accountants in Montreal. We recruit excellent young professionals from there every year, who quickly begin contributing to the success of our firm. We are proud to support the development of future accountants.”

Chantal Tellier, Campaign Co-Chair, Louis Larivière, Director of the Development Office, Michel Patry, HEC Montréal Director, Nathalie Bernier, Managing Partner, KPMG, Laurent Giguère, Partner, KPMG, and Laurent Lapierre, Campaign Co-Chair

 

HEC Montréal Director Michel Patry, for his part, saluted the victories earned by HEC Montréal student teams in 2008 at various national and international interuniversity competitions. “We owe these successes to the hard work by our students, faculty and staff, but also to the support and commitment of our donors,” he pointed out. He also warmly thanked the Co-Chairs and all the campaign volunteers, as well as Mr. Duquette, for their invaluable role in the School’s success.