Mr. George Hungerford’s community leadership in sport, health, education and benevolence has few parallels in British Columbia.
Mr. Hungerford’s dedication to any one of the major initiatives he has undertaken would be considered a huge contribution. That he has taken on several is truly remarkable. He is an Olympic gold medalist in rowing in the 1964 Olympics and has been involved with sport since then, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In the years following Expo 86, Mr. Hungerford played a key role in the Science World fundraising campaign, helping raise $19 million for this important educational initiative.
When cancer touched Mr. Hungerford’s family, he became actively involved in fundraising for the BC Cancer Foundation, serving as co-chair of the Major Gifts Campaign. He helped raise a remarkable $130 million during the Foundation’s Millennium Campaign, which allowed the establishment of the new BC Cancer Research Centre and the Genome Sciences Centre at the BC Cancer Agency.
Mr. Hungerford brought the same level of commitment to his work on behalf of the Pacific salmon conservation. For 20 years, he served as the founding Chair of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, which has funded more than $25 million in projects. He continues as a founding board member.
For more than 30 years, Mr. Hungerford has provided outstanding, strategic and thoughtful community leadership to the Salvation Army, helping raise more than $16 million for the work of the organization. Mr. Hungerford has a long association with both University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University and has been recognized by both universities for his continuing support.
Mr. Hungerford has also chaired and helped raise funds for a world-class rowing facility in Richmond.