The Salvation Army, University of British Columbia, Central City Foundation and West Vancouver Community Foundation today announced the receipt of $27 million from the estate of community builder and business leader Howard Martin.
Martin was instrumental in the development of the West Vancouver neighbourhood of Clovelly-Caulfeild, where he was a longtime resident. He donated 10 acres of land to establish the Caulfeild Elementary School in 1954. He passed away in 1994, stipulating in his will that the four organizations should benefit from his estate at a later time.
“This is an extremely generous gift from a man who made investing in future generations through education a priority with his last wishes,” said UBC President Stephen Toope. “This $7.2m gift will help UBC students and faculty take their achievements out into the community.”
Speaking for the family, Martin’s grandson Maxwell Darling, said: “We are so grateful for the opportunity to see our grandfather’s philanthropic legacy come to realization ensuring both causes and communities he admired, championed and supported throughout his life continue to receive much needed support.”
The $27 million bequest was divided between the four organizations:
- Salvation Army – $9million
- UBC – $7.2 million
- Central City Foundation – $7.2 million
- West Vancouver Community Foundation – $3.6million
The gifts, as itemized above, are the largest ever received by the Salvation Army, Central City Foundation and the West Vancouver Community Foundation.
This gift forms a part of UBC’s start an evolution campaign, the most ambitious fundraising and alumni engagement campaign in Canadian history with the twin goal of raising $1.5 billion and involving 50,000 alumni annually in the life of the university by 2015.
BACKGROUND
Howard Martin biography:
Howard Martin was a leading developer in Vancouver and the North Shore who took over the development of the Caulfeild neighbourhood from Francis Caulfeild, travelling to England to purchase the remaining lands from the Caulfeild estate. He donated 10 acres of this land to establish the Caulfeild Elementary School in 1954 with the proviso that the eastern end of the property should be kept as forest, because he believed that children should have direct contact with nature.
Martin built homes around the school during the 1960s and 1970s, and was instrumental in bringing together the various owners in a process that led to the 1978 approval of the development of the Caulfeild neighbourhood around the school.
Howard Martin was the husband of Joanne Martin and father of Jo Ann, Dale and Jane, all of B.C.