One of Canada’s best fundraisers is getting set to leave The University of Western Ontario to take over the reins as President and CEO of Toronto’s SickKids Foundation.
Ted Garrard has served as Western’s Vice-President (External), overseeing fundraising, alumni relations and communications, since 1996. He leaves June 30 and begins his new job on July 6.
Ted Garrard
“My 13 years at Western have been truly wonderful,” says Garrard. “The opportunity to work for a world class University and to engage with outstanding faculty, staff, students and alumni has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I leave the university knowing that the External portfolio is very strong with a talented team of staff who will continue to excel in all they do.”
“Ted is a pro,” says Western President Paul Davenport. “He has raised more than $600 million for Western, he has enhanced and affirmed the Western brand and reputation as the best student experience in a research intensive university, he has built the best alumni program in Canada, and he has shown himself a national leader in ethical and transparent fundraising. The SickKids Foundation is tremendously fortunate to welcome him, and Western and I will miss him greatly.”
Davenport and Garrard will finish their time at the university on the same day, and Garrard says he believes the timing is perfect to allow new President Amit Chakma an opportunity to look at Western’s external relations with a fresh eye.
Before coming to Western, Garrard worked for more than 13 years for the United Way of Greater Toronto, holding positions of Research Director, Marketing and Communications Director and finally Campaign Director where he spearheaded Canada’s largest annual fundraising campaign, raising more than $200 million from 1992 to 1995.
Garrard is an active community volunteer serving as Past Chair of the Board of the United Way of London-Middlesex, Past Chair of Imagine Canada, a Director of United Way/Centraide Canada, and a Director of United Way International.
In 1997, Garrard received the Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award from the Toronto Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In 1998, he was named as one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. In 2006, Garrard received the Andre Maillhot Award, the highest honour bestowed on a volunteer by the United Way of Canada.
Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation is the fundraising organization for The Hospital for Sick Children – Canada’s most research-intensive hospital and the largest centre dedicated to improving children’s health in the country.
For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008, SickKids Foundation made an investment of $67.2 million in children’s health research, education and care. A direct result of community support, this is the largest investment in paediatric health care and one of the largest contributions to a hospital anywhere in Canada.