Defy Gravity

Launched publicly in 2021, the Defy Gravity campaign will advance U of T's commitment to inclusive excellence and help bring together top minds from every conceivable background and discipline. It is the largest fundraising and alumni engagement initiative in Canadian history.

Lawyer and leaders for a changing world

Thank you to our most generous benefactors. This list reflects Defy Gravity campaign donations to date of $25,000 and above as of June 1, 2025.

A

  • Matthew Abbott
  • Elaine J. Adair
  • Benjamin Alarie
  • Sarah J. Armstrong
  • Michelle C. Awad

B

  • Ryan and Tanya Baker
  • Baker & McKenzie LLP
  • Barreau du Quebec
  • Delores Beck
  • Bell Canada
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
  • Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
  • Amy Bowlby
  • Ward and Catherine Branch
  • Robert L. Brews
  • Andrea and Charles Bronfman
  • Terry Burgoyne

C

  • Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)
  • Carpenters' Regional Council
  • Cassels Brock and Blackwell LLP
  • Robert Centa
  • Chambre des notaires du Québec
  • James R. Christie
  • Kirby Chown
  • Tony Comper
  • Donald R. Crawshaw

D

  • Ronald J. Daniels and Joanne Rosen
  • V. Maureen Kempston Darkes and Lawrence Darkes
  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
  • Dentons Canada LLP
  • Julie Di Lorenzo
  • Jonathan Drance

E

  • Epstein Cole LLP

F

  • Fasken LLP
  • Michael K. Feldman and Nanette Rosen
  • Laura K. Fric
  • Jean Fraser and Tom Rahilly

G

  • La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso
  • Ralph Glass
  • Eric Golden and Tess DiPonio
  • The Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Family Foundation
  • Goodmans LLP
  • The D. H. Gordon Foundation
  • Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
  • The Honourable Jerry S. Grafstein and Carole Grafstein
  • Laurence and Rebecca Grafstein
  • William and Catherine Graham
  • Groia & Company Professional Corporation
  • George Grossman

H

  • Hadley Family Foundation
  • Luc Haegemans
  • Sana Halwani
  • Donald S. Harrison
  • Sandra J. Hausman
  • Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie
  • Stuart J. Hoegner
  • Krista Hill and Linda Plumpton
  • James and Rebecca Hilton
  • Michael S. Hong
  • The Honourable Henry N. R. Jackman

J

  • Karl Jaffary
  • Jlorito Professional Corporation
  • Malcolm Kronby

L

  • Lijim Lau
  • The Law Foundation of Ontario
  • Signe Blanka Leisk
  • Howard A. Levitt
  • LGBT Purge Fund
  • Norman and Gay Loveland

M

  • Margaret and Wallace McCain
  • Joseph Campbell McArthur
  • McCall MacBain Foundation
  • McCarthy Tétrault LLP
  • McMillan LLP
  • Anthony Meehan and Vithia Saing
  • Vincent Mercier and Kirsten Halpin
  • Madhura Mitu Sengupta
  • Courtland and Lisa Morrice

N

  • Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

O

  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
  • Joseph J. Ovsenek 

P

  • Rose M. Patten
  • J. Robert S. Prichard and Ann E. Wilson
  • D. John Purcell

R

  • RBC Wealth Management Canada
  • Patricia Rae
  • The Rossy Foundation
  • Joanna Rotenberg and Andrew Armstrong

S

  • Lionel and Carol Schipper
  • William J. Schnoor
  • The Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation
  • Scotiabank
  • Madhura Mitu Sengupta
  • The Honourable Robert J. Sharpe
  • The David and Judith Shore Foundation
  • Shulman & Partners LLP
  • Maureen Simpson and Almos Tassonyi
  • Sobeys Inc.
  • Thomas G. Stemberg Charitable Foundation
  • Paul and Marni Stepak
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP
  • Sun Life Financial

T

  • Mark H. Tan
  • Larry and Judy Tanenbaum
  • Stewart A. Thomson
  • Thomson Reuters Corp.
  • The John A. Tory Family
  • Torys LLP
  • True Justice for All Foundation

W

  • Daphne E. M. Wagner
  • Donald Ernest and Elizabeth Wakefield
  • E. J. Warren
  • WeirFoulds LLP
  • Jack Whiteside
  • Nigel Wright

Y

  • Robert M. Yalden

Z

  • David Zitzerman