Sheldonhttps://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/070615-3243.asp
A deep commitment to children and the pursuit of social justice for all has led to a $15-million gift to the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. It is the largest gift ever made to a social work faculty in North America.
The donation from Lynn Factor, a social worker of 25 years, and her spouse Sheldon Inwentash, a U of T alumnus, will establish 50 graduate student scholarships, awarded annually starting in 2008 and five endowed chairs in:
• Social Work in Children's Mental Health
• Development, Welfare and Protection of Children
• Social Work in Health Care and Mental Health
• Social Work in the Global Community
• Law and Social Work.
Long regarded as Canada’s leading university for the study of social work, the University of Toronto has named the faculty the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work in recognition of the donors and their generous gift.
“This gift is visionary. It will enable scholarship and research that will inform future policy and social work practices,” says Professor David Naylor, president of the University of Toronto. “And it will help us educate the next leaders of social work. We are extremely grateful to Lynn and Sheldon for their extraordinary gift and their commitment to improving how society cares and supports the most vulnerable among us.”
The dean of the newly named Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work says that today’s gift is a tremendous contribution that will enable future students to have an even greater impact once they graduate. “Research ensures best practices and hence best outcomes for the clients and communities that social workers serve,” notes Professor Cheryl Regehr. “We thank Lynn and Sheldon for their leadership and for providing U of T with the opportunity to make an immense contribution to the study and practice of social work.”
Donor Lynn Factor has always been proud to call herself a social worker. “Social workers are concerned with the least advantaged in our society. We work to deliver strong social services and advocate for good social policies.” She adds, “Social justice is our goal and with our gift we hope to advance the profession and cause of social work by making a great faculty even better and allowing its graduates to serve more effectively."
Sheldon Inwentash says the gift has given him an opportunity to thank U of T for the education that he received. “With this gift we have the chance to give something back to this great university. For me it also presented an opportunity to honour Lynn who, by her example, has taught me there is no more noble profession than social work and no more noble cause than social justice. She inspired this gift and it is my gift to her for all she has taught me.”