In memory of their late husband and father, Franklin Lew, Joan and Derek Lew have made a $2 million gift to the Faculty of Law at UBC. The announcement was made yesterday at the one-year anniversary celebration of Allard Hall, the law school’s new building.
“My father always remembered the life-long lessons and friendships he gained here,” explained Derek, Mr. Lew’s son. “His education and experiences at UBC Law afforded him with many outstanding opportunities that shaped his career. It’s a great privilege for us to honour him with this gift to the school, with the hopes that it will help future generations of students embrace new opportunities and achieve success.”
Mr. Lew, who graduated from UBC Law in 1961, was a successful businessman and an active community member in Vancouver. He passed away in 2006 after a courageous battle with cancer. The gift, part of UBC’s start an evolution campaign, will create the Franklin Lew Innovation Fund, which will fund research and programming for students and faculty at the law school.
“We are grateful for the generosity of the Lew family and are inspired by Mr. Lew’s commitment to education and serving his community,” said Mary Anne Bobinski, Dean and Professor at UBC Law. “His gift will make a lasting impact on the school and will support many important projects and initiatives aimed at providing the best teaching and learning experiences for our students and faculty.”
The faculty honoured Mr. Lew’s legacy by naming the law school’s forum space after him. The Forum is located in the school’s main floor and is a key feature of the building, often used for special events and lectures.
This gift forms part of UBC’s start an evolution campaign, the most ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement campaign in Canadian history. For more information, visit http://startanevolution.ubc.ca and http://www.law.ubc.ca.