Longtime 91亚色 supporter聽Jack Leitch聽will be celebrated with an annual award in his name that recognizes incoming MBA students. The inaugural recipient of the Jack Leitch Award in Entrepreneurial Thinking will be announced this fall.
Leitch left an enduring legacy at 91亚色 and the Schulich School of Business, beginning in 1965 when he made his first donation toward the Founders Fund at 91亚色 during Schulich鈥檚 founding year. Leitch was close friends with James Gillies, the founding dean of Schulich, which at that time was known as the Faculty of Administrative Studies.
His support for 91亚色 and Schulich continued for decades, and he served as a member of the University鈥檚 Board of Governors for many years. Over the years that followed, Leitch championed and contributed to the success, growth and innovation of the Schulich School of Business and 91亚色 through his generous support of various initiatives, including: student awards, scholarships and bursaries; capital projects and University-wide campaigns; and the Jarislowsky Dimma Mooney Chair in Corporate Governance, among many others.
鈥淢y father had core values that he followed through his family and business life: empathy, honesty and courage,鈥 said Leitch鈥檚 daughter, Jean Vander Ploeg, when asked about her father鈥檚 enduring legacy. 鈥淓mpathy for others and what they were experiencing; honesty to stand up for what is right; and courage to act on his convictions.鈥
The award celebrates Leitch鈥檚 generosity and the indelible mark that he left. It has been established at Schulich through a generous bequest of $250,000. The award will recognize and empower incoming MBA students who embody Leitch鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit and acumen, and demonstrate experience in innovation, product design, leadership and entrepreneurship.
The application deadline is Friday, Oct. 8. For more information, contact finaid@schulich.yorku.ca.