Djavad Mowafaghian: 'In my value system, the money made through business belongs to the people at large, and, therefore, it should go back to the people.'Martin Dee for The Globe and Mail
The Donor: Djavad Mowafaghian
The Gift: $15-million
The Cause: University of British Columbia
The Reason: To fund a centre for brain research
Djavad Mowafaghian was one year old when his father died of a stroke, leaving his mother to raise him and his sisters in a modest neighbourhood in Tehran during the 1930s.
Mr. Mowafaghian went on to a successful career in construction in Iran, which he left after the 1979 revolution, and Vancouver, where he settled in 1987. But he never forgot the example set by his mother, Robabeh. "She used to tell us that we should love others instead of expecting to be loved," he recalled from his home in Vancouver. "My mother taught us the importance of helping the poor and she shared her modest wealth with others."
Now 84, Mr. Mowafaghian is following his mother's example. A few years ago, he set up a family foundation and he has been quietly giving away his wealth ever since.
Last month he donated $15-million to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. The money will go toward creating a centre that integrates brain research and patient care. Mr. Mowafaghian, who had a stroke last year, said he made the gift to "help develop a closer understanding of how the brain works and in particular for the role the centre will play in studying and finding cures to brain disorders affecting children."
The gift is one of many. He has also given more than $9-million to Simon Fraser University, $6.5-million to B.C. Children's Hospital and $2-million to the Vancouver General Hospital. He has donated to 20 organizations so far and plans to keep donating. Earlier this year he transferred all of his company assets into the foundation, ensuring it continues granting for many years. "In my value system, the money made through business belongs to the people at large, and, therefore, it should go back to the people," he said.
These days, Mr. Mowafaghian spend as much time as possible with his grandchildren. "I look forward to passing on my mother's teaching of kindness and generosity to the next generation," he said.