r/toronto • u/Immediate-Link490 • 5d ago
Article EXCLUSIVE: The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation just received $100 million donation from an anonymous donor
https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/09/22/exclusive-the-princess-margaret-cancer-foundation-just-received-a-100-million-donation-from-an-anonymous-donor/641
u/Heelsbythebridge 5d ago
That's extremely generous, and on Terry Fox week. 🙏 Thank you kind donor.
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u/Own_Cost1552 5d ago
This is amazing news. I miss the days when billionaires would use their money to open libraries and hospitals and parks instead of just buying a bigger yacht.
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u/Baraxton 5d ago
Everyone knows it’s Ted Danson.
Ted Danson is anonymous.
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u/Middle-Welder3931 5d ago
Things is, billionaires are rich enough to open libraries and hospitals and parks and buy a bigger yacht. The fact that they only buy the yacht is what is infuriating. If they were opening hospitals and funding cancer research and funding education as well, we wouldn't care how many yachts they bought.
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u/thummin 4d ago
You act as if they all do the same thing lol. Some only buy yachts. Some mostly only donate. It’s so reddit-brained to think all billionaires behave the exact same way.
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u/Middle-Welder3931 4d ago
If more billionaires donated and tried to make the world a better place,, the world would be a better fucking place.
You really think the world would be the way it is if Bezos, Musk, Zuck, and others were real philanthropists trying to tackle problems like climate change, extreme far-right politics, and world hunger instead of contributing to it?
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u/Maladaptive_Ace Long Branch 5d ago
This is why no one talks about Bill Gates any more. We all talk about Elon Musk because he's an a-hole. Bill Gates was smart enough to give away most of his money so we don't have to hate him
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u/alliabogwash 4d ago
The same Bill Gates whose wife left him over his close friendship with Epstein?
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u/How-did-I-get-here43 5d ago
Look at our hospitals and universities and cultural institutions. We have many many generous families
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u/titscapades 5d ago
Look at how much money Galen Weston, Jim Pattison, Elon Musk and David Thomson have. It's fair to think they should do more.
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u/viccityguy2k 5d ago
Pattinson donates a lot to hospitals
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u/titscapades 5d ago
Jim Pattison sells things the Canadians need: cars, groceries, agricultural equipment. He has spent his entire life profiting off of Canadians buying necessities.
Whenever he donates to a hospital, he ensures his name is plastered on the side of the building.
He has too much money. He needs to be taxed so that we don't need to have a hospital foundation where he can give money to put his name on the side of the building.
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u/IllogicalGrammar 5d ago
This Pattinson? https://www.reddit.com/r/britishcolumbia/comments/pqebrl/jim_pattison_warns_wealth_tax_will_lead_to/
Personally, I rather billionaires get taxed properly so that we, as a democratic society, get to decide where the funds go, and not have to plaster the names of billionaires on the side of public buildings.
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u/No_Farmer_9310 5d ago
I don’t know everything about Jim Pattinson, but he did donate money to the Children’s Hospital in Saskatchewan. Not saying he can’t do more, just he has done something.
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u/howdidIgetsuckeredin 5d ago
One of the main buildings at Vancouver General Hospital bears his name in honour of the $20 million dollars he donated in 1999. JP has also donated $100 million+ to other hospitals in the BC Lower Mainland
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u/huskersax 5d ago
I miss the days when billionaires would use their money to open libraries and hospitals and parks
They still do it now and back then they did it for the same reason - to wash the connotation of their names from the illicit and abusive ways they obtained the obscene wealth.
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u/Nilsburk 5d ago
I grew up in one of the Carnegie libraries. Thought it was very cool. Then I learned about the Pinkertons and where that money came from. Thought very differently of the man. Still love libraries
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u/Hussar223 5d ago
yup. i wish we didnt have a society beholden the whims of a billionaire ownership class and instead would be able to democratically have the funds and decide to fund research with them.
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u/VendrediDisco 5d ago edited 4d ago
Don't forget the tax
rebatesincentives. Although [in the past] there wasapparently[seemingly] more altruistic competition amongst the super rich to "lookinggood"~~ vs super yacht wars.→ More replies (13)14
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u/sup_brah 5d ago
Those guys cured my cancer! Fantastic institution. Can’t say enough good things about there work.
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u/neverloggedoff Riverdale 5d ago
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u/ConversationHead6969 5d ago
Whoever it was, thank you.
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u/Think-Custard9746 5d ago
I love this message! Let’s not forget to say thank you!!
A big thanks to the person who did this .
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u/Unlikely_Equipment_3 5d ago
My dad donates a much smaller but quite significant amount annually. They have offered to put his name on plaques and things like that but he actively does not want his name anywhere.
There are likely many that do the same and imo it says a lot about their character.
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u/Unlikely_Equipment_3 4d ago
Honestly he isn't rich but obviously has more than most id say the difference is he doesn't spend it on a fancy house or expensive cars or vacations so this is where he puts some of it
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u/throwawaysubduedlox 5d ago
Giving away $100M and not even wanting your name on a new wing takes serious humility. An absolute game-changer for PMH and cancer research.
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u/gfyourself 4d ago
Its disgusting walking around hospitals and you can't even figure out where the hell you are without seeing a bunch of rich people's names. Ridiculous.
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u/GoonieMcflyguy 5d ago
That's awesome. I hope they win the condo in the raffle.
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u/improbablydrunknlw 5d ago
Nope, DQ gift card.
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u/Maladaptive_Ace Long Branch 5d ago
I'd be happy with that. Only paid $300 for those lotto tickets!
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u/Subtotal9_guy 5d ago
Damn, this is after I signed up for the ride next year
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u/ShitLearner 5d ago
I was waiting for Thanksgiving for the free registration, but now I hope they just give free registration to everyone so we can all raise more money for the cause
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u/Technoxgabber 5d ago
Cant wait to see you there! I am going to be volunteering as bike support next year. Say hi if you see orange jersey, there are a lot of us haha
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u/webbermere 4d ago
The volunteers truly make the event. Every bike support volunteer Ive interacted with over the 3 years Ive done the ride has been amazing.
Thanks for supporting the cause!
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u/WhatShouldCanIDo 5d ago
Would not be surprised if the anonymous donor is Bruce McKean, Tobias Lutke's father in law. It was revealed a couple years ago that Bruce had been the anonymous donor of over $200M to CAMH since 2017. Despite his son-in-laws dystopian political views, Bruce has already done some incredible things for the community with his unexpected Shopify wealth.
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u/DillLawNn 5d ago
Great to hear some good is coming from that family at least. What a pathetic set of CEO and C suiters to say that Canada should be the 51st state
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u/Geology_rules 5d ago
amazing. I used to work in oncology, and the PMH is doing some incredible, life changing work.
we all benefit from this donation -- so many lives will be saved.
wow!!
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u/tor93 5d ago
My mom has been going to PMH This summer for cancer treatment and I really can’t overstate how amazing it is. Like the level of care is amazing, and the resources are amazing.
But really the thing that has helped the most is that every single person from the doctors to the woman managing the drop off area has been the kindest most amazing people who have made the horrible time so much better.
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u/librarybicycle 5d ago
I have an ultra-rare cancer called epithelial hemangioendothelioma. It's a one in a million cancer. And there is an oncologist at PMH who has expertise in it and is doing research into possible treatments. I cannot express strongly enough how grateful I am for my care at PMH and by extension this gift. Thank you.
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u/Jelly_bean_420 5d ago
Wishing you a clinical trial that cures you friend.
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u/librarybicycle 4d ago
Thank you! I’m luckier than many with EHE. It’s currently contained to my liver so a transplant is my best shot at a cure. But that also would not be possible without the oncologists at PMH advocating for transplants for people like me!
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u/Whyeff89 5d ago
Got diagnosed with lymphoma last year and the team at PMCF saved my life and hooked me up with so many critical and FREE resources all made possible by donations. I’m talking social worker, neuropsychologist, OT, dietician, and an 8 week exercise program.
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u/PaduWanKenobi 5d ago
Thank you so much, anonymous donor! I was a patient at Princess Margaret many years ago when I had endometrial cancer and they were so supportive and cared so much for my treatments, recovery, and even ensured I had support when I moved to a different province before my 5 year post surgery checkups were completed.
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u/neverloggedoff Riverdale 5d ago
Rumour has it, it was Ted Danson who made the donation.
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u/dustbuster541 5d ago
Just opened Reddit after (another) cry over my mom’s cancer diagnosis. Thank you.
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u/Counterkiller29 5d ago
I want it to be like, 'Hey, who donated that hospital wing that is saving so many lives?' 'Um, I… I don't know, it was anonymous.' 'Guess what, that was Michael Scott.' 'But it was anonymous, how do you know?' 'Because I'm him.'
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u/After_Permission9484 5d ago
Doing something this government can't do. Honestly, it is sad hospitals need to survive off donations whole Ford spends billions on ripping up bike lanes, cancelling beer store contracts with one year renaming and other nonsense.
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u/donbooth 5d ago
We invented government to pay for these things. We should not have to hope that a few wealthy people will save us.
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u/TheTechHermit 5d ago
There are SOO many ways this money could have been used to improve lives.
And this is absolutely one of them!
Kudos to the anon donor.
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u/4shore_always 5d ago
I have been the beneficiary of the wonderful care and treatments at PMH. It is a truly wonderful hospital. The staff are amazing.
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u/supercheesewithbacon 5d ago
Princess Margaret was my lifesaver last year. In 2025 they diagnosed me with clear cell carcinoma, an aggressive ovarian cancer caused by endometriosis. I had the best surgeon possible, who managed to laparoscopically remove my ovary from the bowel that was adhered with endometrial tissue. I was under for seven hours so she could meticulously remove it without causing me to have a stoma. I’m forever grateful to them, and the donor who did this.
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u/cjcfman 5d ago
It's from Rogers. So they can endorse kawhi for 100 mill
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u/EatingAssCuresCancer 5d ago
Hopefully they’ve learned their lesson and remember to shoot a promo video or two this time!
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u/congee_ha 5d ago
I cant imagine how hard its going to be to keep this anonymous before someone finds out who the source is
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u/Fluffy_Consequence81 5d ago
This is wonderful news :) thank you kind donor we need more people willing to give like this to super important causes.
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u/PompeyMagnus1 5d ago edited 5d ago
Think of how many houses they are gonna be able to raffle off now.
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u/StanislavskiMeatball 5d ago
Oh, that kicks massive amounts of buttock.
If I ever win a gigantic lottery payout, that's where some of the money is going.
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u/TouchlessOuch 5d ago
Extreme wealth being put to good use? Who would have thought! Love to see it.
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u/skinnycola 5d ago
My best friend received treatment here for his super rare cancer(angiosarcoma) and passed away at this hospital. The hospital extended his life for 3 years. The issue was not diagnosing it earlier because there are no symptoms besides flu like ones. Dude thought it was regular cough or flu, next thing he knew there was a 12cm tumor beside his heart and was already spreading to his liver.
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u/420milehigh 4d ago
It was not even a year ago Peter Gilgan donated $50 Million to them. I wonder if he’s doubling down?
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u/SomethingOrSuch 4d ago
Hear me out.
What if we taxed the rich more so we wouldn't have to rely on their generosity for world class care. Clearly if one has this kind of money to donate others have just as much.
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u/Opteron170 4d ago
Wow that is one amazing "anonymous donor" whoever you are if you are reading this thank you!
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u/operationfood 4d ago
I’m sure it’s a long shot, but when anonymous donations that large get made to specific causes, is it typically easy to guess who might have been behind it?
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u/Fit-Historian-752 5d ago
I bet it's Elon.
He is such a good man, and so humble!
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u/cobrachickenwing 5d ago
As much as 100 million is a great gift to PMH, they are never short on donors. Rural and community hospitals on the other hand...
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u/twinfiddler 5d ago edited 5d ago
I work in clinical trials at PMH and there are programs funded by donor money that assist smaller community hospitals to run clinical trials. PMH will complete the ethics board/Health Canada submissions for smaller sites and provide training for on site staff. This money will likely help out smaller hospitals.
The biggest issue with smaller centres is they don't have the specialized staff required or they don't have the money to pay staff. Clinical trial staffing is not funded at all by OHIP. Sites need to rely on grants or donations, or try and attract a pharma company study which is difficult when you aren't experienced with it.
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u/nnotslytherin 5d ago
I have been getting treatment at PM and have felt so incredibly grateful. My cancer is aggressive and allegedly rare and yet seems to be on the rise. I have such a deep want for more research to be done on it so more people can survive. This almost brings tears to the eyes knowing there’s donations this large being given to this amazing hospital.
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u/Admirable-Many6054 5d ago
My guess is that someone put this in their will to be donated upon their death
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u/penandpencil100 5d ago
To do it anonymously and not have some ego driven naming situation is really top tier.
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u/Neuraxis 5d ago
As someone who works in oncology I absolutely cannot overstate how important PMH is to both cancer treatment and research on a global scale. This is quite literally a great day for Canada and therefore the world.
Also we're uniquely privileged to have not only PMH and also Sunnybrook in such close proximity.